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•"^    I 


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GR  E  YSL  AER; 


ROMANCE  OF  THE  MOHAWK. 


CHARLES    F  E  N  N  O    HOFFMAN, 

AUTHOR     OF     "A     WINTER      IN      THE     WEST,"     "WILD     SCENES     OF     THE 
FOREST    AND    PRAIRIE,"    ETC.,   ETC. 


"There  is  a  Divinity  that  sha|*s  our  emls, 
Rough  hew  them  how  we  will." 


FOURTH    EDITION 


VOL.    II. 


NEW     YORK : 

BAKER     &    SCR1BNER, 

145      NASSAU       STREET,      AND      36      1'  A  R  K       ROW 

1849. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1848,  by 
CHARLES    FENNO    HOFFMAN, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  Hie  District  Court  of  the  United  Slates,  for  the  Southern 
District  of  New  York. 


EDWAED    O.   JENKINS,    PRINTER, 
114  Nassau  street,  New  York. 


/ 
BOOK    FOURTH. 

THE    WILDWOOD. 


"  Where  am  I  now  ?     Feet,  find  me  out  a  way 
Without  the  counsel  of  my  troubled  head ; 
I'll  follow  you  boldly  about  these  woods, 
O'er  mountains,  through  brambles,  pits  and  floods." 

BEAUMONT  and  FLETCHER. 

"  I  know  each  lane,  and  every  alley  green, 
Dingle  and  bushy  dell  of  this  wild  wood, 
And  every  bosky  bourn  from  side  to  side, 
My  daily  walks  and  ancient  neighborhood."  MILTON. 

"  Joys  unexpected  and  in  desperate  plight, 
Are  still  most  sweet,  and  prove  from  whence  they  come, 
When  earth's  still  moon-like  confidence  in  joy 
Is  at  her  full.     True  joy  descending  far 
From  past  her  sphere,  and  from  the  highest  heaven 
That  moves  and  is  not  moved.  CHAPMAN. 

" I  did  not  take  my  leave  of  him, 

But  had  most  pretty  things  to  say:  Ere  I  could  tell  him 

How  I  would  think  of  him  at  certain  hours, 

Such  thoughts  and  such  ;  or  ere  I  could 

That  parting  kiss,  which  I  had  set 

Betwixt  two  charming  words,  comes  in  my  father." 

CTMBELINE. 


BOOK    FOURTH. 

THE  WILDWOOD. 


CHAPTER    I 


THE    WANDERERS, 


"  When  those  we  love  are  absent — far  away, 
When  those  we  love  have  met  some  hapless  fate, 
How  pours  the  heart  its  lone  and  plaintive  lay, 
As  the  wood-songster  mourns  her  stolen  mate ! 
Alas  1  the  summer  bower — how  desolate ! 
The  winter  hearth — how  dim  its  fire  appears  ! 
While  the  pale  memories  of  by-gone  years 
Around  our  thoughts  like  spectral  shadows  wait." 

PARK  BENJAMIN. 

"  She  led  him  through  the  trackless  wild 
Where  noontide  sunbeam  never  blazed."  SPRAGUE. 


THE  glad  spring  has  come  again  over  the  land,  and  no 
where  do  the  flowers  spring  more  joyfully  beneath  her 
flushing  footsteps  than  in  the  lovely  valley  of  the  Mohawk. 
Here  the  seeds  of  civil  discord  lie  crushed,  or,  at  least,  inert, 
at  present.  The  storm  of  war  has  rolled  off  to  distant 
borders ;  or  if,  indeed,  it  be  lowering  near  again,  its  ter 
rors  are  unfelt,  because  unseen.  The  husbandman  has 
once  more  driven  his  team  afield,  free  from  the  apprehen- 


262  GREYSLAER; 


sion  that  he  may  return  to  find  a  blazing  roof-tree  and 
slaughtered  household  when  the  close  of  the  day  shall  re 
lieve  him  from  his  toils.  The  wife  once  more  has  joyed 
to  see  him  go  forth  whistling  on  his  way,  confident  that 
the  protector  of  her  children  will  not  fall  slaughtered  in 
the  ploughshare's  furrow,  but  return  to  glad  her  eyes  at 
nightfall.  Alas!  these  simple  people  dream  not  that  the 
present  calm  is  but  a  breathing-spell  in  the  terrible  strug 
gle,  which,  ere  it  pass  away,  shall  print  every  cliff  of  this 
beautiful  region  with  a  legend  of  horror,  and  story  its  ro 
mantic  stream  with  deeds  of  fiendish  crime. 

Clad  in  the  deepest  mourning,  the  orphan  heiress  of  the 
Hawksnest  sits  by  the  trellised  window,  gazing  out  upon 
the  lovely  fields,  of  which  the  supposed  death  of  her  lover 
and  relative  has  made  her  the  possessor.  Her  wild 
brother,  surrendering  his  share  in  the  estate  to  her,  has 
gone  to  seek  a  soldier's  fortune  or  a  patriot's  death  by 
fighting  in  the  armies  of  his  country.  The  green  mound 
that  covers  the  remains  of  her  last  surviving  parent  and 
of  her  only  sister  is  seen  through  a  vista  of  trees  upon  a 
swell  of  land  beyond.  It  is  the  mellow  hour  of  twilight, 
when  the  thoughtful  heart  loves  best  to  ponder  upon  such 
mementoes  of  the  departed.  And  has  Alida,  when  her 
eye  o'erbrims,  and  her  hands  are  clasped  in  agitation  at 
the  thoughts  of  the  cruel  fate  which  has  overtaken  her 
household — has  she  no  thought,  no  one  woman's  regretful 
tear  for  the  lover  who  had  dared  everything  to  shield  those 
who  were  dear  to  her  from  harm ;  the  lover  who  had 
thrown  away  his  own  life  in  the  effort  to  snatch  her  from 
a  captivity  worse  than  death  ? 

She  had  thought  of  him.  She  now  thought  of  him.  She 
had  too  often  and  too  long  thought  of  him.  At  least,  some- 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  263 

times  she  herself  so  believed,  when  accusing  herself  of 
dwelling  more  upon  his  memory  than  upon  that  of  those 
who  ought  to  be  dearer  to  her.  But,  then,  was  there  no 
excuse  for  that,  which  her  woman's  heart  straightway 
supplied  ?  For  her  sister  and  father  it  was  pleasurable, 
but  vain,  to  grieve.  It  was  challenging  the  will  of  Heaven 
ever  to  dwell  gloomily  upon  their  fate,  which  Heaven,  for 
good  or  ill,  had  fixed  for  ever.  But  of  Greyslaer  she 
could  think  hopefully,  as  of  one  who  might  still  return  to 
share  her  friendship  and  receive  her  gratitude.  "Her 
friendship  /"  Yes,  that  was  the  word,  if  her  thoughts  had 
been  syllabled  to  utterance  when  she  hoped  for  Greyslaer's 
return.  But  there  were  moments  when  she  hoped  not 
thus  ;  moments  of  dark  conviction  that  he  had  ceased  to 
be  upon  this  earth  ;  that  death  had  overtaken  him  as  well 
as  others  for  whom  she  was  better  schooled  to  grieve. 

That  black  death  is  a  strange  touchstone  of  the  human 
heart.  How  instantly  it  brings  our  real  feelings  to  the 
surface !  How  it  reawakens  and  calls  out  our  stiffly  ac 
corded  esteem  !  How  it  quickens  into  impetuous  life  our 
reluctant  tenderness,  that  has  been  withheld  from  its  ob 
ject  till  it  can  avail  no  more  ! 

Strange  inconsistency  of  woman's  nature !  Alida 
mourned  the  dead  Greyslaer  as  if  he  had  been  her  affi 
anced  lover;  but  hoped  for  the  reappearance  of  the  living 
one  as  of  a  man  who  could  never  be  more  to  her  than  a 
cherished  friend — a  brother — a  dear,  dear  brother  ! 

Alack !  young  Max,  couldst  thou  but  now  steal  beside 
that  twilight  window,  hear  those  murmured  words  of  sor 
row,  and  take  that  taper  hand  which  is  busied  in  brushing 
away  those  fast-dropping  tears,  thy  presence  at  such  a 
melting  moment  might  bring  a  deeper  solace,  call  out  a 


2(54  GREYSLAE  11 


softer  feeling  than  simple  joy  at  recovery  of  a  long-lost 
friend.  Alack  !  that  moments  so  propitious  to  a  lover 
should  pass  away  for  naught ! 

And  where,  then,  is  Greyslaer?  The  autumn  was  not 
spent  idly  by  his  friends  in  exploring  the  wilderness  for 
traces  of  his  fate ;  and  even  in  mid-winter  Bait  crossed 
the  Garoga  lakes  on  snow-shoes,  followed  up  the  cascades 
of  Konnedieyu,  and  penetrated  deep  into  the  Sacondaga 
country  upon  the  same  errand.  The  spot  where  Brant 
once  held  his  secret  camp,  and  to  which  his  captives  were 
carried,  had  been  twice  examined  since  Alida  lent  her  aid 
to  direct  Bait  to  the  spot.  But  the  wigwams  were  long 
since  deserted,  and  the  snow  which  beat  down  and  broke 
their  flimsy  frames,  obliterated  every  track  by  which 
the  migrating  Indians  could  be  followed.  Bait  again  took 
up  the  search  the  moment  the  severity  of  winter  became 
relaxed.  He  has  now  followed  the  spring  in  her  graceful 
mission  northward  ;  and  the  lakes  of  the  Upper  Hudson, 
the  wild  recesses  of  the  Adirondack  Mountains,  that  mys 
terious  wilderness  which  no  white  man  has  yet  explored, 
is  said  to  be  the  scene  of  his  faithful  wanderings.  Thither 
we  will  soon  follow  him.  But  first,  however,  we  must  go 
back  some  months,  and  take  up  the  thread  of  our  narra 
tive  at  the  squaw  camp  of  Thaykndanagea,  if  we  would 
follow  out  the  fortunes  of  Greyslaer  from  the  moment 
when  the  desperado  Valtmeyer  so  fearfully  crossed  his 
path. 

The  first  red  streaks  of  dawn  were  beginning  to  dapple 
the  east,  when  the  luckless  captive  found  himself  travers 
ing  a  deep  hemlock  forest,  with  "  The  Spreading  Dew" 
for  his  guide.  The  Indian  girl,  after  reviving  him  from 
the  stunning  effects  of  the  blow  which  had  prostrated 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK. 


him,  by  sprinkling  water  upon  his  forehead,  had  bound  up 
the  contusion  with  a  fillet  of  colewort  leaves,  which  was 
kept  in  its  place  by  a  strip  of  strouding  torn  from  her  own 
dress  ;  and,  urging  her  still  bewildered  patient  from  the 
scene  of  his  mishap,  had  thridded  the  swamp  and  guided 
him  to  the  hills  in  the  rear  of  the  Indian  camp.  These 
hills  stretch  away  toward  the  north,  increasing  continually 
in  altitude  as  they  recede  from  the  Mohawk,  until  they 
finally  swell  into  those  stupendous  highlands  known  as  the 
Adirondack  Mountains. 

Greyslaer,  though  ignorant  of  the  precise  geography  of 
this  Alpine  region,  had  still  some  idea  of  the  vast  wilder 
ness  which  extended  toward  the  Canada  border  ;  and 
when  he  saw  his  guide,  after  reaching  a  rapid  and  turbu 
lent  stream,  turn  her  face  to  the  northward,  and  strike  up 
along  its  banks,  as  if  about  to  follow  the  water  to  the 
mountain  lake  in  which  it  probably  headed,  he  paused,  and 
was  compelled,  for  the  first  time,  to  reflect  upon  what  use 
he  should  make  of  his  newly-recovered  liberty,  and  which 
way  it  were  best  for  him  now  to  direct  his  steps.  His 
first  object  must  be,  of  course,  to  reach  the  nearest  body 
of  his  friends.  But,  since  the  events  in  which  he  had 
been  an  actor,  and  those  which  might  have  transpired 
during  the  weeks  that  he  was  ill  and  a  prisoner,  he  knew 
not  where  those  friends  might  be  found.  He  was  igno 
rant  what  changes  might  have  taken  place  in  the  valley  of 
the  Mohawk,  or  which  party  might  have  the  ascendency 
now  that  the  spirit  of  civil  discord  was  fairly  let  loose  in 
that  once  tranquil  region.  Should  he  fall  into  the  hands 
of  some  straggling  band  of  Tories,  or  should  he  even  ven 
ture  to  claim  the  hospitality  of  those  who,  but  a  month 
since,  had  stood  neutral  while  the  conflict  was  impending, 


UKEYSLAER; 


he  might  find  himself  seized  upon  by  some  new  convert 
to  the  royal  party,  who  would  gladly  afford  the  most 
lively  proofs  of  his  new-born  zeal  for  the  crown  by  secur 
ing  so  active  a  partisan  of  the  patriot  cause.  The  city  of 
Albany  was,  therefore,  his  only  safe  destination,  if  he 
would  preserve  that  liberty  of  action,  by  the  preservation 
of  which  alone  he  could  hope  to  succor  Alida. 

He  determined,  therefore,  not  to  venture  descending 
into  the  lower  country  till  he  could  strike  it  at  least  as  far 
east  as  Schenectady.  But  hovv,  if  he  concluded  to  make 
this  long  circuit  through  the  woods,  could  he  find  his  way 
amid  the  wild  forests  he  must  traverse  ?  Was  this  lonely  In 
dian  girl,  who  was  little  more  than  a  child,  to  be  his  only 
guide  ?  and,  if  so,  how  were  they  to  procure  subsistence 
in  a  journey  through  the  wilderness,  where  the  path  was 
so  toilsome  that  many  days  must  elapse  before  he  could 
accomplish  the  distance  which,  upon  an  ordinary  road, 
•can  be  traversed  in  one  ?  Max  abruptly  broke  off  these 
unsatisfactory  reflections  by  asking  his  companion  whither 
she  was  now  guiding  him.  The  reply  of  "  The  Dew" 
told  him  that  much  might  be  gained  by  admitting  her  into 
his  counsels.  The  foresight  of  the  Indian  maid  had  an 
ticipated  at  least  the  most  serious  of  the  difficulties  which 
embarrassed  her  companion.  She  was  leading  him  to  the 
Garoga  lakes,  where  her  tribesmen  had  once  had  a  fishing 
camp,  in  which  they  might  at  least  find  a  shelter  from  the 
elements,  and  where  Greyslaer  could  readily  obtain  sub 
sistence  for  himself  until  "  The  Dew"  could  make  her  way 
to  the  settlements  and  gain  some  tidings  of  his  friends,  or, 
at  least,  procure  him  some  more  eligible  guide  than  her 
self  from  the  lower  castle  of  the  Mohawks;  a  small  band 
of  that  tribe,  under  their  leader  Hendrick,  being  friendly 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  267 

to  the  patriot  cause.  Greyslaer  hoped,  however,  that  if 
he  could  once  secure  a  retreat,  where,  for  a  few  days,  he 
should  be  safe  from  pursuit,  he  might  find  means  to  com 
municate  with  his  faithful  and  cherished  follower,  old 
Bait,  if,  indeed,  the  stout  forester  had  not  perished  in 
the  fray  in  which  he  himself  was  taken  prisoner. 

These  anxious  reflections  upon  the  chances  of  the  future 
served  for  a  while  to  turn  his  thoughts  from  a  more  bitter 
channel.  But  the  recollection  of  the  scene  in  which  Alida 
had  been  torn  from  his  side  now  recurred  with  all  its 
horrors. 

It  is  a  hard  thing  to  love  vainly.  It  is  a  hard  thing 
for  the  young  heart,  that  has  given  its  first  generous  burst 
of  affection  to  another,  to  be  flung  back  upon  itself, 
shocked,  borne  down,  blasted  upon  the  very  threshold  of 
existence.  The  growth  of  the  sentiment  in  some  minds 
— in  those  which  love  most  deeply — is  often  the  first 
emotion  that  has  ever  compelled  them  to  look  into  their 
own  souls ;  that  has  ever  made  them  fully  aware  of  the 
sentient  and  spiritual  essence  which  they  bear  within 
this  earthly  tabernacle.  And  to  surrender  that  sentiment 
seems  like  parting  with  the  vital  spirit  that  animates  them. 
Such  surrenderment  of  their  early  dreams  is,  however, 
the  fate  of  thousands ;  for  love — young  love — like  the 
Bird  of  Lightning  in  the  Iroquois  fable,  which  bears  the 
flame  from  Heaven  to  teach  men  only  where  first  the 
purifying  element  had  birth,  seems  to  fulfil  his  mission, 
reckless  where'er  his  burning  wings  may  sweep,  so  that 
his  mysterious  errand  be  accomplished. 

But  Greyslaer's  was  no  common  tale  of  misplaced 
hopes  and  unrequited  attachment.  He  could  not  fling 


268  GKEYSLAER; 


from  him  the  image  of  Alida  as  an  idle  vision  of  his 
dreaming  boyhood.  Her  sorrows  had  become  his  own  ; 
and  the  love  which  might  have  perished  from  hopeless 
ness  seemed  born  anew  from  sympathy — aye,  though  he 
were  doomed  hereafter  to  have  neither  part  nor  lot  in 
aught  else  belonging  to  her,  save  this  share  in  her  sor 
rows  only,  yet  such  community  of  grief  was  so  dear  to 
him,  that  the  world  had  now  no  prize  for  which  Greyslaer 
would  have  bartered  his  gloomy  heritage  of  woe.  Alas  ! 
what  a  joyless  and  barren  destiny  did  he  thus  embrace  ! 
Flinging  his  fresh  and  blossoming  youth,  like  a  worthless 
weed,  away ;  grafting  upon  his  ripening  manhood  a  shoot 
of  bitterness,  that  must  dwarf  its  energies  and  wither  its 
fruit  of  promise. 

The  shrill  burst  of  the  Indian  warwhoop  startled  Grey 
slaer  from  the  stern  revery  with  which  we  have  ventured 
to  blend  our  own  reflections  while  detailing  its  general 
character.  The  wild  cry  seemed  to  come  from  beneath 
his  very  feet.  He  recoiled  a  step,  and  gazed  eagerly 
down  the  rocky  defile  he  was  descending.  The  sumach 
and  sassafras  grew  thick  and  heavy,  imbowering  the 
broken  path  below.  The  Indian  girl  was  nowhere  to  be 
seen.  He  turned  and  threw  a  hurried  glance  along  the 
sides  of  the  glen,  where  ledges  of  rock  here  and  there  cut 
the  foliage  horizontally  before  him.  He  caught  a  glimpse, 
as  of  the  figure  of  the  light-footed  maiden  scaling  the  walls 
of  the  glen,  and  retreating  from  him.  He  advanced  a  pace 
to  see  if  it  were  indeed  she  who  was  thus  flying  from  him 
at  his  utmost  need.  On  the  instant,  a  tomahawk  hurtled 
through  the  air,  and  cleaving  the  light  branches  near, 
buried  itself  in  a  maple-tree  beside  him.  Quick  as  light, 
Max  seized  the  weapon,  and  plucked  it  from  the  bark  in 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  2GO 

which  it  quivered.  But,  instantaneous  as  was  the  move 
ment,  it  did  not  avail  him  ;  for,  as  he  was  in  the  act  of 
wheeling  round  to  confront  the  peril  in  the  direction 
whence  the  hatchet  came,  he  was  grappled  in  the  arms  of 
a  sinewy  Indian.  Down  they  both  went  together,  the 
Indian  uppermost ;  and  so  completely  did  he  seem  to 
have  Greyslaer  at  advantage,  that  he  leisurely  addressed 
him  while  partly  raising  himself  to  draw  his  knife. 

"  My  broder  thought  it  time  to  leave  the  camp  when 
Isaac  come,  eh,  my  broder  ?  Aha  !"  And,  as  the  mis 
creant  spoke,  he  made  a  motion  across  the  skull  of  his 
prostrate  prisoner,  as  if  he  felt  tempted  to  go  through  the 
ceremony  of  scalping  while  life,  yet  vigorous  in  his  veins, 
should  give  a  zest  to  the  cruelty. 

But  Max  was  not  the  man  to  be  sportively  handled  in 
a  death  encounter.  His  dark  eye  followed  the  gleaming 
weapon,  as  the  barbarian  flourished  it  above  his  head,  with 
a  glance  as  keen  as  that  of  the  hawk-eyed  Indian.  He 
had  fallen  with  one  arm  under  him,  and  happily,  it  was 
that  which  held  the  tomahawk,  which  thus  escaped  the 
notice  of  his  foe.  It  was  for  the  moment  pinioned  to  the 
ground,  not  less  by  the  weight  of  his  own  body  than  by 
that  of  the  savage  ;  and  the  force  with  which  he  had  been 
hurled  to  the  earth  so  paralyzed  the  strength  of  Greyslaer, 
that  he  did  not  at  first  attempt  to  extricate  his  hand.  But 
now,  throwing  back  his  head,  as  if  he  shrunk  from  the 
knife  that  was  offered  at  it,  he  suddenly  arched  his  back 
so  as  to  lift  the  savage  and  himself  together  ;  and,  slipping 
his  arm  from  under  him  as  the  other  bore  him  down  again 
by  throwing  the  full  weight  of  his  person  lengthwise  upon 
him,  he  dealt  a  side  blow  with  the  hatchet  which  nearly 


270  GREYSLAER; 


crushed  the  skull  of  the  Indian.  The  fellow  relaxed  his 
grip  of  Greyslaer's  throat  in  an  instant,  and  rolled  over, 
and  lay  as  if  stricken  to  death  upon  the  spot,  while, 
breathless  and  disordered,  young  Max  regained  his  feet. 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE     MOHAWK.  271 


CHAPTER    II 


THE    MARCH    OF    THE    CAPTIVE. 


"  Amid  thy  forest  solitudes  he  climbs 
O'er  crags  that  proudly  tower  above  the  deep, 
And  knows  that  sense  of  danger — which  sublimes 
The  breathless  moment — when  his  daring  step 
Is  on  the  verge  of  the  cliff,  and  he  can  hear 
The  low  dash  of  the  wave  with  startled  ear, 
Like  the  death-music  of  his  coming  doom, 
And  clings  to  the  green  turf  with  desperate  force, 
As  the  heart  clings  to  life;  and  when  resume 
The  currents  in  his  veins,  their  wonted  course, 
There  lingers  a  deep  feeling,  like  the  moan 
Of  wearied  ocean  when  the  storm  is  gone." 

HALLECK. 

UPON  examining  the  features  of  the  Indian,  which  were 
of  a  singularly  brutal  cast,  Greyslaer  felt  convinced  that 
he  had  beheld  them  before,  but  where  or  when  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  say. 

Bending  near  to  scrutinize  them  more  closely,  he  ob 
served  that  life  still  remained  ;  for  the  eyes,  which  were 
shut,  had  their  lids,  not  smoothly  drooping  as  when  closed 
in  death,  but  knit  and  screwed  together  as  when  suddenly 
closed  in  a  paroxysm  of  rage  or  pain.  They  opened 
now,  as  a  heavy  gasp  broke  from  the  bosom  of  the  sav 
age.  Max  instantly  possessed  himself  of  the  scalping- 
knife  which  lay  near,  and  held  it,  like  a  dagger  of  miseri- 


272  GREYSLAER; 


corde,  at  the  throat  of  his  reviving  foe.  The  slightest 
thrust  would  have  rid  him  at  once  of  all  further  difficulty ; 
but  it  was  not  in  his  heart  to  slaughter  a  living  man  thus 
laid  at  his  mercy,  and  he  shouted  to  the  girl  to  bring  him 
a  withe  that  he  might  bind  his  prisoner.  The  Dew  replied 
not  to  his  call.  But.  he  heard  a  quick  trampling  near, 
which  he  mistook  for  her  approach. 

He  looked  in  the  direction  whence  the  sound  of  foot 
steps  came,  but  the  leafy  covert  was  so  thick  in  that 
direction  that  he  could  descry  nothing.  He  listened 
anxiously ;  they  came  nearer,  but  there  was  no  reply  to 
his  repeated  calls.  The  footsteps  paused  a  moment.  He 
leaned  forward  to  peer  beneath  the  heavy  branches ;  and 
in  the  same  moment  that  an  armed  Indian  darted  from 
the  covert  before  him,  the  shadow  of  another,  who  was 
approaching  from  behind,  was  cast  athwart  him.  He 
had  not  time  to  spring  to  his  feet  before  he  was  again  a 
captive  and  defenceless. 

The  two  last-comers  were  soon  joined  by  others,  who 
quickly  made  a  rude  litter  of  boughs  for  their  wounded 
tribesman,  and  the  whole  party  then  took  their  way 
through  the  woods  with  their  captive.  They  did  not, 
however,  carry  their  prisoner  back  to  the  squaw  camp, 
as  he  first  expected  they  would,  when,  under  the  circum 
stances,  he  anticipated  the  usual  wretched  doom  of  an 
Indian  prisoner.  But,  moving  along  leisurely  until  they 
came  to  a  level  and  marshy  piece  of  ground,  they  paused 
for  a  moment,  and  seemed  in  doubt  what  next  to  do,  when 
one,  who  had  aided  in  carrying  the  wounded  man,  gave 
his  place  to  another,  and  approached  to  him  who  seemed 
to  act  as  leader  of  the  party.  He  murmured  something, 
which,  from  the  low  tones  in  which  the  Indians  usually 
pitch  their  voice?.  Greyslaer  could  not  overhear. 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  373 

"  Wahss  !"  (go  !)  was  the  brief  reply  to  his  communica 
tion. 

The  man  beckoned  to  two  others,  and  the  three,  plung 
ing  into  a  copse  near  by,  appeared  the  next  moment,  each 
with  a  birchen  canoe  upon  his  shoulders.  Crossing  the 
trail  they  had  been  travelling,  the  whole  party  entered  a 
thicket  of  alders,  where  a  thread  of  water,  scarce  three 
inches  deep,  crept  noiselessly  along.  The  others  care 
fully  parted  the  bushes,  so  that  the  canoemen  could  let 
down  their  shallops  into  this  slender  rill,  which  was  so 
narrow  that  the  water  was  wholly  hidden  when  a  canoe 
was  placed  upon  its  surface. 

The  wounded  man  was  assigned  to  the  forward  canoe, 
and  Max,  with  his  arms  still  pinioned  behind  him.  placed 
in  the  centre.  The  whole  party  were  then  again  soon  in 
motion.  The  runnel  was  too  narrow  for  the  use  of  pad 
dles,  and  for  some  time  they  propelled  themselves  for 
ward  merely  by  the  aid  of  the  bushes  which  overreached 
their  heads. 

At  last  they  came  to  a  spot  where  the  swamp  around 
them,  being  confined  between  two  hills,  poured  its  oozing 
springs  more  completely  into  a  single  current.  The 
water,  running  deeper  and  swifter,  cut  its  way  down 
through  the  black  mould  until  a  channel  of  yellow  peb 
bles  was  revealed  beneath  it.  The  alders  were  separated 
more  widely  from  each  other,  and  grew  more  in  scattered 
clumps,  which  sometimes  formed  green  islets,  circled  with 
a  fringe  of  scarlet,  wherever  their  red  roots  were  washed 
and  polished  by  the  flowing  waters. 

Now  the  stream  would  sweep  amid  tussocks  of  long 
waving  grass,  crowned  here  and  there  by  a  broad 
branching  elm,  whose  branches  dipped  in  the  tide,  that 
13 


274  GREYSLAER; 


whirled  in  deepening  eddies  where  its  projecting  roots 
overhung  the  water.  Now  it  rippled  for  a  few  yards 
over  a  pebbly  bottom,  and  then,  turned  by  a  spit  of  yel 
low  sand — thick  trodden  with  the  tracks  of  deer,  of 
wolves,  and  not  {infrequently  with  those  of  bears  and 
panthers — it  would  slide  round  a  point  of  land  black 
with  the  shade  of  lofty  pines.  A  frith  of  long  wild  grass, 
growing  evenly  as  a  fresh-mowed  meadow,  and  em 
bayed  among  the  thousand  points  of  a  tamarack  swamp, 
received  now  the  spreading  river.  And  now,  again,  it. 
was  circumscribed  once  more  into  a  deep,  black,  formal- 
looking  pool,  circled  with  water-lilies  ;  and  henceforth, 
around  many  a  beetling  crag,  thick  sheathed  with  laurel 
and  the  clustering  hemlock,  and  beneath  the  shadows  of 
many  a  tall  mountain  rising  from  forests  of  bass-wood 
and  maple,  it  marched  proudly  onward  till  it  expanded 
into  a  magnificent  lake. 

Coasting  along  the  shores  of  this  lake  for  a  mile  or  two. 
they  came  to  an  Indian  hunter's  camp,  which,  as  it  seemed, 
belonged  to  a  man  who  furnished  the  canoes.  The  place 
was  offensive  from  the  smell  of  dead  animals,  such  as 
minks,  otters,  and  musquashes,  whose  carcasses,  stripped 
of  their  skins,  were  suspended  from  the  boughs  of  trees 
around  the  cabin  as  food  for  the  Indian  dogs.  But  the 
Indians,  notwithstanding  their  proverbial  keenness  of 
scent,  seemed  no  wise  molested  by  this  savory  atmosphere.* 


*  A  sporting  friend,  the  companion  of  the  author  in  more  than  one  excur 
sion  among  these  mountain  wilds,  seeing  some  Indians  with  whom  he  hunted 
busied  in  removing  these  objects  of  annoyance  from  the  camp  as  the  party 
approached  it,  was  wholly  at  a  loss  to  conceive  the  motive  of  placing  them 
where  they  were  found,  until  the  sudden  appearance  of  two  half-famished 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  375 

Leaving  their  wounded  tribesman  under  the  care  of 
this  worthy,  who  laid  claim  to  some  skill  as  a  medicine 
man,  the  rest  of  the  party  started  again  with  their  captive 
on  the  following  day,  and,  crossing  several  mountain 
ridges,  and  winding  their  way  among  innumerable  ponds 
and  lakes,  halted  near  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  which 
still  bears  the  name  of  Indian  Lake,  from  its  having  been 
a  sacred  place  of  resort  to  the  Iroquois. 

The  outlet  of  this  lake,  though  it  is  buried  in  a  region 
of  lofty  and  sterile  mountains,  winds  through  natural  pas 
tures  of  deep  grass*  imbowered  with  enormous  elms, 
forming  a  soft  and  open  sylvan  landscape,  which  is  in  the 
most  delicious  contrast  to  the  thick  and  rugged  forests 
which  frown  from  the  adjacent  hills.  This  was  the  seat 
of  the  mysterious  KENTICOYS,  or  solemn  meetings  of  the 
Mohawks,  when,  at  the  opening  and  closing  year,  the  dif 
ferent  tribes  of  the  Iroquois  retired,  each  to  some  such 
forest-temple,  to  worship  the  Supreme  Being,  whose 
power  was  alike  acknowledged  by  all. 


dogs  revealed  tlie  mystery ;  for  it  is  the  custom  of  a  hunter,  -when  leaving 
his  dogs  to  protect  his  camp  in  his  absence,  to  hang  the  food  prepared  for 
them  at  different  heights,  so  that  the  animal  might  not  devour  all  his  stores 
at  once,  but  have  to  leap  higher  for  it  as  he  grows  leaner. 

These  dogs,  as  one  might  have  supposed  from  their  fatigued  appearance, 
had  been  off  somewhere  pursuing  the  chase  for  their  own  amusement.  But, 
upon  this  being  suggested  to  the  old  Indian  hunter,  who  spoke  a  few  words 
of  broken  English,  and  was  more  communicative  than  most  of  his  race,  he 
was  indignant  at  the  idea  of  an  Indian  dog  deserting  his  charge.  He  pointed 
to  a  mountain  peak  at  the  other  end  of  the  lake,  and  assured  our  friend 
that  they  had  been  watching  for  him  from  its  summit,  Avhen  they  saw  hia 
boat  upon  the  water  and  hurried  homeward. 

*  Called  "  flys  "  or  "  vlies  "  by  our  hunters. " 


276  GREYSLAER; 


The  prisoner,  though  treated  at  this  sacred  season  with 
a  degree  of  mildness  and  forbearance  that  was  new  to 
him  as  a  trait  of  Indian  character,  was  only  allowed  to 
approach  the  threshold  of  the  valley,  where  a  guardian 
was  appointed  him  until  the  solemn  days  were  over. 

The  garden-like  plain  was  spread  out  below  the  emi 
nence  upon  which  stood  the  shanty  which  was  his  tem 
porary  prison-house ;  and  Greyslaer  could  from  time  to 
time  discern  some  plumed  band  defiling  from  the  hills  and 
losing  themselves  among  the  far-reaching  groves,  to  which 
the  Indians  repaired  from  every  side.  But  of  the  form  of 
their  ceremonial  or  the  nature  of  their  worship  he  could 
discern  nothing.  Nor  has  any  white  man  been  able  to 
learn  more  of  these  periodical  gatherings  of  the  Iroquois, 
save  only  their  name  and  their  object.* 

It  was  two  days  after  these  unknown  rites  were  con 
summated  that  Greyslaer  found  himself  ascending  a  rug 
ged  mountain  under  the  care  of  his  captors,  who  stil-l 
withheld  all  harsh  treatment,  while  warily  watching  him 
as  if  they  only  held  him  in  trust  as  the  captive  of  some 
one  more  powerful  than  themselves.  It  could  scarcely 
be  the  wounded  Isaac,  however  ;  for,  since  his  first  seiz 
ure,  Max  had  been  studiously  kept  out  of  the  sight  of  that 
ferocious  Indian,  whose  bloody-minded  disposition  fre- 


*  It  is  curious  to  remark,  however,  how,  with  the  spread  of  Christianity 
and  civilization  along  our  Indian  borders,  this  custom  of  retiring  away  from 
the  haunts  of  men  to  worship  God  among  primeval  woods,  grew  up  among 
our  frontiers-men ;  while  some  might  even  discover  an  analogy  between 
the  rude  but  not  irreligious  feeling  which  first  suggested  the  ancient  Kenti- 
coys  of  the  Iroquois,  and  the  policy  which  still  keeps  alive  the  practice  of 
"  camp-meetings  "  among  a  numerous  and  not  unenlightened  sect  of  Chris 
tians. — See  Flint's  Valley  of  the  Mississippi. 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  277 

quently  showed  itself  during  the  delirium  of  fever  under 
which  he  was  left  at  the  hunter's  cabin. 

Whatever  disposition  it  was  ultimately  intended  to  make 
of  the  prisoner,  his  life  seemed  in  little  danger  during  the 
march  ;  but  a  measure  adopted  by  his  captors  as  he  now 
reached  the  highest  pinnacle  of  the  mountain  appeared  to 
indicate  that  its  crisis  was  at  hand.  They  led  him  to  the 
edge  of  a  lofty  precipice,  which  commanded  a  view  al 
most  completely  around  the  compass,  and  motioned  to 
him  to  cast  his  eyes  above  and  below  him. 

It  was  the  hour  of  autumn  sunset,  when  the  golden  air 
seems  to  glorify  every  object  on  which  it  rests.  Never 
did  it  bathe  in  molten  light  a  lovelier  landscape  of  moun 
tain  peaks,  interminable  to  the  eye  ;  interlaced  by  lakes 
so  numerous  that,  as  these  last  reflect  the  tints  of  the  glow 
ing  sky,  the  mountains  themselves  seem,  in  their  autumn 
livery,  like  rainbow  masses  floating  in  liquid  ether.  The 
heart  of  Greyslaer  thrilled  within  him  at  the  sight ;  and 
not  the  least  painful  part  of  the  death  that  seemed  to 
hover  near  was  the  thought  of  closing  his  eyes  for  ever 
upon  such  a  world  of  glorious  beauty.  But  his  struggles 
to  prevent  them  from  bandaging  his  eyes  were  vain,  for 
his  hands  were  bound  behind  him ;  and  now  he  stood 
blinded  and  helpless  above  the  gulf  into  which  each  mo 
ment  he  expected  to  be  hurled. 

Suddenly  he  felt  a  rude  hand  upon  either  shoulder,  and 
he  gasped  the  prayer  which  he  believed  to  be  his  last — 
but  the  next  moment  the  two  Indians  who  had  fixed  their 
gripe  upon  him  only  turned  their  captive  round  several 
times,  fast  held  between  them,  and  led  him  away  from  the 
precipice.  He  became  then  conscious  of  gradually  de 
scending.  Again  he  felt  that  his  path  led  upward  over 


278  G-R-E  Y  8  L  A  E  B  •, 


innumerable  obstacles,  which  his  guides  patiently  aided 
him  in  surmounting.  Once  more,  again,  he  was  convinced 
that  he  was  descending,  though  his  path-way  wound  so 
hither  and  thither  that  it  was  impossible  to  say  how  steep 
the  slope  might  be. 

At  last  he  heard  the  sound  of  water  faintly  dashing 
upon  the  shore.  His  guides  halted  and  removed  the 
bandage  from  his  eyes.  He  looked  up,  and  found  himself 
upon  the  edge  of  a  small  lake  or  mountain  tarn,  deep  set 
at  the  bottom  of  a  rocky  bowl  or  hollow  less  than  a  mile 
in  diameter,  circled  around  by  naked  crags  and  splintered 
pinnacles  of  rock,  some  straggling  copse- wood  or  a  blasted 
tree  here  and  there  alone  relieving  the  utter  barrenness 
of  the  scene,  which  at  once  conveyed  the  idea  of  the  ex 
tinct  crater  of  a  volcano. 

This  heart-chilling  sterility  was,  however,  somewhat 
redeemed,  when,  after  circling  the  lake  for  a  short  dis 
tance,  the  Indians  came  to  a  few  acres  of  well-wooded 
land  in  a  recess  of  the  circular  valley.  Here  Greyslaer 
again  heard  the  voices  of  women  and  children  from  a 
camp  of  safety,  and  resigned  himself  to  the  monotony  of 
captivity  in  a  stronghold  from  which  there  seemed  no 
escape. 

It  were  bootless  to  relate  the  varied  sufferings  of  Max 
Greyslaer  during  his  long  winter  of  captivity  in  that  dreary 
mountain,  which  Indians  call  "  The  Thunder's  Nest  :"*  to 
tell  how  he  passed  weeks  of  nearly  utter  starvation,  when 
fortune  failed  the  two  or  three  Indian  hunters  upon  whose 
success  the  whole  community  depended  for  subsistence  ; 


*  Crane  Mountain  is  its  present  unmeaning  name. 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  279 

how  eagerly  he  caught  at  the  relief  to  his  monotonous 
existence,  when  his  captors  ordered  him  also  to  turn  out 
and  hunt  the  bear,  the  lynx,  and  the  panther,  the  only 
animals  which  are  found  among  those  high  mountain  fast 
nesses  in  the  winter  season,  while  the  Iroquois  themselves 
pursued  on  snow-shoes  the  moose  and  red  deer  in  the 
valleys  below ;  to  tell  of  the  harsh  treatment  he  received 
when,  weary  and  faint,  with  limbs  half  frozen  and  lacer 
ated  from  toiling  through  the  frozen  snow-crust,  he  re 
turned  from  a  fruitless  hunt ;  of  the  capricious  gleams  of 
kindness  of  which  he  was  the  object  when  his  address  and 
prowess  in  the  chase  awakened  alike  the  admiration  and 
the  jealousy  of  those  who  watched  his  every  motion  while 
pursuing  it  with  him.  But  now  the  spring,  which  has 
been  long  in  reaching  this  highland  region,  has,  while 
thickening  the  forest  around,  brought  with  it  the  hope  of 
escape,  amid  some  of  those  greenwood  coverts.  It  is  true 
that  he  is  no  longer  permitted  to  wander  as  far  as  when 
the  woods  were  bare.  Yet  if  he  can  break  his  thraldom 
for  an  hour,  there  is  one  at  hand  with  both  the  will  and 
the  ability  to  guide  him  from  the  wilderness. 

There  has  been  an  accession  of  numbers  to  the  Indian 
camp,  bringing  rumors  that  Brant  and  his  warriors  have 
all  left  the  lower  country.  And  The  Spreading  Dew, 
who  came  in  with  the  rest,  has  even  communicated  to 
Greyslaer  that  Sir  John  Johnson  and  his  loyalist  retain 
ers,  both  Indian  and  white,  have  withdrawn  from  the  Val 
ley  of  the  Mohawk  and  fled  to  Canada.  The  patriots 
must  be  in  the  ascendency  !  Why  is  Max  (jreyslaer  not 
there  to  share  the  triumph  of  his  friends  ? 


280  GREYS  LAER; 


CHAPTER    III. 


THE    FORESTERS. 


"  The  woodland  rings  with  laugh  and  shout, 

As  if  a  hunt  were  up, 
And  woodland  flowers  are  gathered 

To  crown  the  soldier's  cup. 
With  merry  song  we  mock  the  wind 

That  in  the  pine-top  grieves, 
And  slumber  long  and  sweetly 
On  beds  of  oaken  leaves." 

BKYANT. 


THERE  were  preparations  for  a  hunter's  carousal  in  the 
heart  of  the  forest.  The  scene  of  their  revel  was  a  sunny 
glade,  where  a  dozen  idlers  were  lounging  away  the  noon 
tide  beneath  the  dappled  boughs.  A  fire  had  been  kin 
dled  upon  a  flat  rock  near  by,  and  from  the  rivulet  that 
gurgled  around  its  base,  the  neck  of  a  black  bottle  pro 
truded,  where  it  had  been  anchored  to  cool  in  the  running 
water.  A  fresh-killed  buck  lay  as  if  just  thrown  upon 
the  sod  in  the  midst  of  the  woodland  crew,  who  stirred 
themselves  from  the  shade  as  the  hunter  who  had  flung 
the  carcass  from  his  strong  shoulders  turned  to  lean  his 
rifle  against  the  fretted  trunk  of  a  walnut-tree  that  spread 
its  branches  near. 
"  Why,  Kit  Lansingh,  my  boy,  you  are  no  slouch  of  a 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  281 

woodsman  to  carry  a  yearling  of  such  a  heft  as  that,"  cried 
our  old  friend  Bait,  lifting  the  deer  by  its  antlers  partly 
from  the  ground.  "You  must  have  struck  the  crittur,  too, 
a  smart  distance  from  here,  for  none  of  us  have  heard  the 
crack  of  your  rifle  to-day." 

"  Somebody  may,  though  you  have  not,  Uncle  Bait ; 
for,  let  me  tell  you,  boys,  there's  other  folks  in  the  woods 
besides  us  chaps  here." 

The  hunters  started  up  and  were  now  all  attention — 
for  the  signs  of  strangers  in  the  forest  is  ever  a  source  of 
keen  interest  to  the  woodsman,  who,  when  the  frontier  is 
in  arms,  never  ventures  to  strike  the  game  of  which  he  is 
in  search  without  remembering  that  he  himself  may  be, 
at  that  very  moment,  the  human  quarry  of  some  more 
dangerous  hunter  that  hovers  near. 

"  Nay,  Conyer,  go  on  cutting  up  the  carcass.  I've  left 
no  trail  to  guide  a  redskin  to  this  spot,"  said  the  hunter, 
disembarrassing  himself  of  his  powder-horn  and  shooting- 
pouch,  which  he  hung  upon  a  wild  plum-bush  near  by. 
"  We  can  sit  down  to  dinner  without  any  of  Brant's  peo 
ple  coming  to  take  pot-luck  with  us ;  for  I've  scouted 
every  rod  of  ground  within  miles  of  the  camp.  But  the 
redskins  are  out,  nevertheless,  I  tell  ye." 

"  Where,  Kit,  where  ?  How  know  you  ?"  simultane 
ously  cried  a  dozen  voices. 

"  Why,  you  see,  it  must  be  at  least  four  hours  agone 
since  I  struck  that  yearling,  which  was  down  in  the 
Whooping  Hollow  by  Cawaynoot  Pond." 

"  Cawaynoot  Pond  !"  ejaculated  a  hunter.  "  What,  that 
little  bog-bordered  lake,  with  the  island  that  floats  loose 
upon  it  like  a  toast  in  a  tankard  ?" 

"  Go  on,  go  on,  Kit,"  cried  another.  "  We  all  know 
3* 


282  GREYSLAER; 


the  Whooping  Hollow ;  but  you  were  a  bold  fellow  to 
strike  a  deer  there." 

"  Yes,  I  stirred  him  first  in  the  mash  at  this  eend  of 
Cawaynoot,  and  that's  a  fact.  But,  instead  of  taking  the 
water  there  he  puts  out  westward,  and  clips  it  right  over 
toward  the  river,  till  he  brought  me  in  sight  of  the  Potash 
Kettle." 

"  Senongewah — '  The  Great  Upturned  Pot' — the  Abre- 
gynes  call  it,"  ejaculated  Bait  ;  "  I  know  the  mounting." 

"  Well,"  pursued  Lansingh,  "  the  buck  doesn't  keep  on 
toward  the  river,  but  hooks  it  right  round  the  rim  of  the 
Kettle,  and  back  again  toward  the  east.  It  was,  in 
course,  long  afore  I  could  git  a  shot ;  and,  following  hard 
on  his  trail  along  a  hillside  overgrown  with  short  sprangly 
bushes,  I  saw,  by  the  way  in  which  they  were  trampled 
down,  that  a  white  man  must  have  passed  that  way 
before  me." 

"  A  white  man?"  cried  several  voices,  with  increasing 
interest, 

"  Yes,  a  white  man  ;  and  that  within  no  very  great  time, 
any  how." 

"  How  knew  you  that,  Kit  ?"  asked  Bait. 

"  Why,  I  cleared  the  bushes  aside,  looked  down,  and 
there,  as  plain  as  my  Bible,  I  saw  the  print  of  his  shoe  in 
the  moss." 

"  Which,  in  course,  would  not  hold  a  foot-print  long  if  it 
was  fresh  and  springy.  Kit  is  right,  boys,"  said  Bait. 

"And  that  wasn't  all,  uncle.  I  saw  a  shoe-print  in  the 
fresh  moss,  with  that  of  a  small  Injun  moccasin  treading 
right  in  his  footsteps.  (A  little  salt,  Teunis  ;  now  let  the 
gravy  of  that  other  slice  drip  on  my  corn-cake  till  I'm 
ready  for  it — so  fashion.") 


A    ROMANCE     OF    THE    MOHAWK.  283 

"  A  moccasin  ?  Go  on,  go  on,  Kit,"  cried  an  eager 
young  hunter. 

"  Let  a  man  eat  in  whiles,  won't  you,  lads  ?"  said  Lan- 
singh,  who  seemed  disposed  to  make  the  most  of  his  narra 
tive.  "  Well,  I  went  on,  followed  my  deer  till  I  got  a  shot 
at  him  from  behind  a  cranberry  bush  in  Whooping  Hol 
low,  and  just  as  he  was  bending  his  knees  to  take  the 
water  near  the  very  spot  where  I  first  started  him,  (it  was 
nateral.  you  know,  Uncle  Bait,  for  the  crittur  to  go  back 
where  he  belonged — a  drop  of  that  liquor,  if  you  please,) 
he  caught  my  bullet  in  the  back  of  his  neck,  gave  a  splurge, 
and  was  done  for. 

"So,  after  pulling  him  out  of  the  water,  I  hangs  up  the 
carcass  out  of  reach  of  the  wolves,  and  goes  back  to  look 
after  the  white  man's  trail. 

"It  kept  along  the  hillside  only  a  short  distance,  and 
then  struck  suddenly  off  atween  two  rocks  and  among 
some  dogbriers,  where  I  nearly  lost  it,  right  over  the 
ridge,  on  the  opposite  side  of  which  it  led  right  back  in 
the  direction  from  which  I  had  first  traced  it.  Now,  says 
I  to  myself,  says  I,  it's  after  all  only  some  fool  of  a  fellow 
that  has  lost  himself  in  these  woods,  which  are  about  the 
easiest  to  travel  in  a  human  crittur  could  have,  seeing  that  the 
hills  are  so  many  landmarks  all  around.  Let  him  go  to 
the  old  boy,  says  I,  for  a  dunderhead  as  he  is.  No,  again 
says  I,  here's  an  Injun  moccasin  right  in  his  track,  and 
perhaps  it's  some  unfortunate  who's  been  driven  to  take 
to  the  bush  by  the  troubles  of  the  times,  and  not  come 
here  to  make  a  fool  of  himself  for  pastime  ;  so,  Kit  Lan- 
singh,  streak  it  ahead,  man,  and  look  after  your  fellow- 
crittur." 

"  I'd  a  disowned  ye  for  my  sister's  son  had  ye  done 
otherwise,"  interrupted  Bait. 


284  GREYSLAER; 


"  Well,"  pursued  the  hunter,  "  I  did  go  ahead,  and  that 
though  it  took  me  myself  out  of  my  way,  Uncle  Bait.  1 
followed  the  scent  for  miles  toward  the  east,  till  I  thought 
it  would  take  me  clean  out  to  Lake  George.  But  at  last 
I  saw  what  paid  me  for  my  trouble ;  for,  in  crossing  a  bit 
of  pine  barren,  I  came  upon  a  raal  Indian  trail,  and  no 
mistake  about  it — where  a  dozen  men  or  more  had  streaked 
it  through  the  sand  after  my  shoe  and  moccasin." 

"  Tormented  lightning  !"  cried  Bait,  rubbing  his  hands 
in  much  excitement ;  "  go  on,  go  on,  Kit ;  d'ye  say  a  dozen 
Injuns  ?" 

"  Yes,  uncle,  not  a  copperskin  less  ;  and  let  me  tell  you 
now  that  this  discovery  discomboberated  me  considerably. 
Why,  says  I  to  myself,  says  I,  why  should  a  dozen  red 
skins  be  led  away  thus  after  one  poor  wanderer,  when 
they  might  see  already,  from  the  double  trail,  that  he  is  a 
doomed  man,  from  the  moccasin  tread  that  is  still  fresh 
in  his  footfalls  ;  here's  something  new,  now,  to  study  in 
Injun  natur,  and  I'll  see  the  eend  of  it.  So,  with  that,  I 
ups  and  ons. 

"  And  now  I  soon  saw,  by  the  way  in  which  the  white 
man's  track  doubled  and  doubled  again,  crossing  and  re- 
crossing  that  of  the  Injuns  in  one  etarnal  everlasting  snarl, 
that  the  fellow  could  not  be  cutting  such  carlicues  for 
nothing.  He  knows  what  he's  about.  He's  a  chap  that 
understands  himself,  says  I ;  and  I  began  to  have  respect 
for  him. 

"  By  this  time,  though  I  ought  to  have  said  it  afore,  the 
trail  had  led  west  again ;  yes,  indeed,  clean  across  the 
river,  which  I  forded  in  following  it,  and  then  up  and 
away  over  the  ridge  on  the  opposite  side,  striking  clean 
over  to  the  Sacondaga.  I  mistrusted  that  it  would  cross 
that  river,  too,  as  it  had  the  other  branch ;  but  no,  it  fol- 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  285 

lows  down  to  the  meeting  of  the  waters,  or  Tiosaronda* 
as  the  Abregynes  call  it.  There,  where  the  falls  of  the 
main  river  roar  through  the  rocky  chasm  as  it  hurries 
along  like  mad  to  join  the  other  fork.  And  here,  says  I, 
the  game  will  either  be  up  with  Shoeties,  or  he  will  give 
Moccasin  the  slip  altogether.  And  raaly,  boys,  I  defy  the 
best  woodsman  among  ye — I  defy  the  devil,  or  Uncle 
Bait  himself — to  find  any  leavings  of  that  white  man  around 
the  place.  You  may  see  there  the  woods  trampled  all 
round  by  Injuns.  You  may  see  where  they  have  slipped 
down  the  bank,  and  where  they've  clomb  up  again.  You 
may  follow  their  trail  backward  and  forward  along  either 
fork  of  the  stream  for  a  mile,  and  you  may  see  where 
they  all  united  again,  and  trudged  off  as  if  to  take  up  the 
back  track  once  more  afresh,  and  so  make  a  new  thing  of 
it ;  but  how  or  whither  that  white  man  cleared  himself, 
you  cannot  find  out !" 

"  That  flogs  natur,"  cried  a  hunter.  "  And  saw  ye  no 
other  trace  of  the  critturs  anywhere,  Kit  ?  Not  a  hair's 
ashes  of  them  ?" 

"  Yes !  but  not  thereabouts  ;  and  now,  boys,  I'm  about 
to  tell  you  the  curiosest  part  o'  the  hull  business.  For 
you  must  know,  that,  if  I  had  not  left  my  deer  where  I 
did,  the  snarl  might  have  remained  without  any  further 
clew.  But  as,  after  giving  up  the  chase,  I  made  back 
tracks  up  the  river,  recrossed,  and  struck  out  again  for 
Whooping  Hollow  to  bring  the  venison  on  here  to  camp, 
what  should  I  discover  but  the  self-same  track  of  the 
white  man  right  in  the  heart  of  the  hollow.  I  did  not 


*  Now  Luzerne. 


286  GREYSLAER; 


look  to  see  whether  the  floating  island  was  near  shore,  or 
if  he  had  stepped  aboard  and  floated  off  on  it ;  but,  '  my 
friend,'  says  I  to  him — I  mean,  says  I  to  myself — '  my 
friend,'  says  I,  '  had  I  seen  your  first  track  in  the  Whoop 
ing  Hollow,  and  on  the  very  shores  of  Cawaynoot,  you 
would  never  have  led  me  sich  a  Jack-a-lantern  chase  as 
this.  I'm  not  a  gentleman  that  keeps  company  with  the 
Striped  Huntsman  or  Red-heeled  Bob,  as  the  Scotch  set 
tlers  call  ye;  and,  if  we  are.  ever  to  make  acquaintance, 
your  own  parlor  in  the  Whooping  Hollow  is  not  exactly 
the  place  I  would  choose  for  an  introduction.'  With  that 
I  cut  out  in  quick  order  from  the  hollow,  and  made  clean 
tracks  for  camp.  And  that,  boys,  is  the  hull  o'  my  story  ; 
and  now  let's  have  something  to  drink." 

The  woodsmen  all  listened  with  deep  attention  to  this 
long  rigmarole  narrative  as  it  was  slowly  detailed  by  the 
young  hunter.  By  some  it  was  received  merely  as  an 
idle  tale  of  wonder,  such  as  those  who  love  the  marvel 
lous  may  often  hear  from  the  simple-minded  rangers  of 
our  forest  borders.  It  was  but  one  of  the  thousand  sto 
ries  told  about  the  Whooping  Hollow,  whose  mysteries 
none  could,  and  few  cared  to  solve.  (For  though  the 
wild,  whooping  sound,  from  which,  in  former  times,  the 
hollow  took  its  name,  is  now  never  heard,  save  in  echo 
to  a  human  voice,  the  floating  island  is  still  pointed  out  to 
the  traveller  as  his  road  winds  around  the  basin  at  the 
bottom  of  which  reposes  the  little  lake  of  Cawaynoot.*) 


*  Cawaynoot  is  the  term  for  "island"  in  the  Mohawk  tongue.  The  lake 
is  now  generally  called  "  Adam's  Pond,"  from  the  name  of  a  settler  upon 
its  banks. 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE    MOHAWK.  287 

Others,  again,  regarded  the  story  of  Christian's  adventures 
as  affording  positive  evidence  of  the  neighborhood  of  In 
dians  ;  and  though  "  The  Striped  Huntsman,"  as  he  was 
called,  might  be  at  the  bottom  of  the  business,  yet  it  was 
evident  that  a  considerable  band  of  mortals  like  them 
selves  had  been  equally,  with  young  Lansingh,  misled  by 
his  deviltries  and  lured  into  their  immediate  neighbor 
hood.  This  last  was,  in  fact,  the  view  which  old  Bait 
took  of  the  matter. 

"Not,"  said  the  honest  woodsman,  "that  the  crittur 
whom  folks  call  '  The  Striped  Huntsman'  be  t'ther  a  good 
sperrit  or  a  bad  sperrit,  or  whether  or  no  there  be  any 
sperrit  at  all  about  the  matter  !  Nother  do  I  pretend  to 
say,  with  some  people,  that  the  Striped  Huntsman  is  only 
some  roguish  half-breed  or  outlawed  Injun  Medicine 
man,  who  has  pitched  upon  this  unsettled  part  of  the  pat 
ent  between  the  Scotch  and  German  clearings  and  the 
Mohawk  hunting  grounds,  as  the  very  corner  of  the  airth 
from  which  it  was  the  business  of  no  one  in  partiklar  to 
oust  him,  whatever  shines  he  might  cut  up  on  his  own 
hook.  No,  I  leave  it  to  the  domine,  whose  business  it  is 
to  settle  sich  matters.  (Pity  the  good  man  couldn't  catch 
some  droppings  o'  eloquence  from  yonder  preaching 
brook  to  lifen  his  sarmints  !)  But  I  tell  ye,  boys,  that  if 
it  be  raaly  the  track  of  the  crittur  which  lies  fresh  in  our 
neighborhood,  it's  not  such  an  unlikely  sperrit  after  all  ; 
for  why  may  we  not  captivate  some  of  the  redskins  that 
it  has  coaxed  towards  us,  and  thus,  mayhap,  git  tidings 
of  the  poor  lost  capting  ?" 

"  Old  Bait,"  said  a  hunter,  "  you  are  for  ever  thinking 
of  poor  Captain  Max,  whose  bones  must  be  long  since 
cold." 


288  .  GREYSLAER; 


"And  for  what  else,  Rhynier  Peterson,  did  we  come  off 
on  this  tramp,  if  it  was  not  that  all  of  us  had  some  thought 
of  the  capting  ?  And  born  heathens  we'd  a'  been  had  we 
not  come  to  look  after  him,"  added  Bait,  indignantly. 

"  Yes,  but  Bait,"  said  another,  "  though  we  all  of  us  fol 
lowed  you  willingly  enough  at  first,  yet  haven't  we  all 
determined  long  ago  that  it  was  a  wildgoose  chase  you 
were  leading  us  after  ?  Here,  now,  we've  been  fifty  miles 
above  here,  poking  about  among  mountains  so  big,  that,  if 
the  summer  ever  manages  to  climb  them,  it  is  only  to  rest 
herself  for  a  week  or  so,  when  she  slants  down  the  other 
side,  and  leaves  the  snow  right  off  to  settle  in  her  place. 
The  old  '  North,'  too,  haven't  we  followed  up  the  river  to 
where  it  dodges  about,  trying  to  hide  its  raal  head  in  a 
hundred  lakes  ?  These  lakes,  moresomever,  haven't  we 
slapped  through  them  into  five  times  as  many  more,  and 
made  portages  up  to  the  leetlest  tricklings  of  some  of 
them  ?  To  be  sure  we  have  ;  and  what  good  has  it  done 
us,  all  this  trampoosing  and  paddling  hither  and  thither  in 
this  etarnal  wilderness?  We  are  now  within  ten  miles  of 
Lake  George,  and  less  than  half  that  distance  of  the  mouth 
of  the  Sacondaga,  and  my  say  is,  either  to  strike  over  at 
once  to  Fort  William  Henry,  or  to  cross  the  river  below 
the  forks,  and  make  the  best  of  our  way  to  Saratoga." 

"  And  that's  my  say  too,"  said  a  gray-headed  hunter 
who  had  not  yet  spoken.  "  It's  a  fool's  errand  looking 
further  for  the  captain.  I  don't  myself  altogether  believe 
that  young  Max  is  completely  done  for  in  this  life  ;  for  we 
found  traces  enough  of  him  in  the  deserted  squaw  camp 
last  autumn ;  and  if  the  Injuns  kept  him  alive  so  long,  he 
may  yet  wear  his  scalp  in  safety.  But  it  all  comes  to  the 
same  thing  if  Brant  has  carried  him  off  to  Canada,  where 
he'll  be  sure  to  keep  him  till  these  wars  are  over." 


A    KOMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.'        289 

<;  What !  you  too,  Hank  Williams  !"  replied  Bait,  with  a 
look  of  keen  reproach  at  the  last  speaker;  "you  who  were 
the  first  to  offer  to  take  to  the  woods  with  me,  and  keep 
there  till,  dead  or  alive,  we  found  the  capting  !  Well, 
boys,  I  don't  want  to  get  riled  with  ye,  when,  mayhap, 
we  are  jist  upon  the  pint  of  a  fight,  where  a  man  wants 
all  his  coolness ;  but  I  tell  ye  one  thing,  I  came  out  here 
after  young  Max,  and,  dead  or  alive,  I  don't  go  in  without 
him.  You  may  drop  off  one  by  one,  or  go  away  the  hull 
biling  on  ye  together,  ye  may  ;  but  old  Bait  will  not  leave 
these  woods  till  he  gets  fairly  upon  his  trail  ;  and,  once 
upon  it,  he'll  follow  it  up,  if  he  has  to  streak  it  again  clean 
through  the  mountains  to  Canada.  So,  now  we  under 
stand  each  other,  let's  eat  our  dinner  without  no  more 
words  said  about  the  matter,  but  go  and  look  after  these 
Injuns  as  soon  as  may  be." 

"  Why,  uncle,"  said  Christian  Lansingh,  as  the  rest  of 
the  party  now  addressed  themselves  silently  to  the  rude 
meal  before  them,  "  I  never  thought  for  a  moment  .of  giv 
ing  up  the  chase  as  long  as  you  thought  it  well  to  go 
ahead." 

"  I  know'd  it,  boy,  I  know'd  it ;  the  son  of  old  Christian 
and  my  nephew  is  not  the  chap  to  be  skeered  from  his 
promise  by  some  nigger  nurse's  gammon  about  the  Striped 
Huntsman  and  sich  fooleries." 

"  Oh.  our  friends  don't  stickle  about  the  matter  we  have 
now  in  hand,"  said  another  young  hunter,  modestly ; 
"but,  you  know,  Bait,  some  of  them  have  left  their  homes 
and " 

''  Their  hums  ?  And  who  in  all  natur  wants  a  better 
hum  nor  this  ?  Here  are  walls  that  rise  straight  upward 
higher  than  any  you  see  in  housen,  keeping  the  wind 


290  GKEYSLAER; 


away,  yet  letting  you  step  about  where  you  choose  with 
out  getting  out  o'  doors — for  these  walls  follow  you,  as  it 
were,  and  close  around  you  wherever  you  move ;  and  as 
for  them  as  wants  a  fireside,  why,  aint  the  woods  right 
full  of  clean  hearth-stones  and  cosy  nestling-places?  A 
hum  ?  Tormented  lightning  !  is  it  a  soft  bed  ye  want 
there,  lads  ?  Why,  isn't  yonder  mossy  tussock  as  fresh  and 
springy  as  e'er  a  pillow  your  good  woman  could  shake  up 
for  ye — there,  I  mean,  where  that  woof  of  vine-leaves, 
close  as  an  Injun  mat,  spreads  over  to  keep  alike  the 
sun  and  dews  away  ?  Lads,  lads,  I'm  ashamed  on  ye 
to  talk  o'  housen  in  a  place  like  this,  where  the  very' light 
from  heaven  looks  young  and  new — you  may  laugh,  Bill, 
but  it  does,  I  say — the  light  o'  God  looks  bright,  and  fresh, 
and  tender  here,  as  if  it  might  a'  been  twin-born  with  the 
young  Summer  this  very  year — see  only — jist  see  for 
yourselves  how  it  scatters  down  through  the  green  thatch 
of  yonder  boughs,  which  lift  each  moment  as  if  some  live 
and  pleasant  thing  dropped  from  them  on  the  sod  below !" 

"  It  is  of  those  they  have  left  at  home,"  rejoined  the 
young  hunter,  the  moment  that  Bait,  pausing  to  catch 
breath,  allowed  him  to  put  in  a  word  ;  "  our  friends  have 
left  wives  and  families  at  home,  whom  they  must  look 
after  in  times  like  these  ;  but  here's  half  a  dozen  of  us  use 
less  lads,  who  will  keep  the  woods  with  you  until  you 
yourself  shall  say  that  we  have  made  a  clean  thing  of 
it." 

The  doughty  Bait  seemed  to  wince  a  little  under  the 
first  of  these  remarks ;  for  he  was  compelled  to  admit  the 
force  of  it.  He  did  not  reply,  however,  save  by  patting  the 
speaker  on  the  shoulders,  and  nodding  to  him  kindly  as  he 
buried  his  face  in  the  flagon  from  which  the  whole  of  the 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE     MOHAWK. 


company  drank  in  succession.  The  rest  of  the  meal  was 
despatched  in  silence,  and  the  party  then  made  their  pre 
parations  for  proceeding  to  the  spot  where  Christian  Lan- 
singh  had  last  seen  the  mysterious  footprints. 

Leaving  Bait  and  his  crew  of  foresters  to  make  a  cau 
tious  and  weary  reconnoissance  of  this  enchanted  ground, 
let  us  give  our  attention  to  the  two  wanderers,  who  the 
reader  may  soon  have  cause  to  suspect  were  the  real  flesh 
and  blood  actors  in  this  game  of  woodland  magic. 


2<J2  GREYSLAEll; 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THE  FLIGHT  FROM  THE  THUNDER'S  NEST. 

"  He  has  left  the  green  valley  for  paths  where  the  bison 
Roams  through  the  forest  or  leaps  o'er  the  flood ; 
Where  the  snake  in  the  swamp  sucks  the  deadliest  poison, 
And  the  cat  of  the  mountains  keeps  watch  for  its  food ; 
But  the  leaf  shall  be  greener,  the  sky  shall  be  purer, 
The  eye  shall  be  clearer,  the  rifle  be  surer, 
And  stronger  the  arm  of  the  fearless  endurer 
That  trusts  naught  but  Heaven  in  his  way  through  the  wood." 

BRAIXARD. 

LET  it  bring  no  reproach  to  the  manhood  of  Max  Grey- 
slaer,  that  now,  in  the  very  prime  of  youthful  vigor,  with 
a  frame  schooled  by  hardship  to  endurance  of  every  kind, 
he  must  still  depend  upon  female  address  to  deliver  him 
from  bondage, 

Twice  already  had  he  attempted,  at  the  free  peril  of  his 
life,  to  regain  his  liberty ;  once,  as  we  have  before  seen, 
when,  lost  in  the  mazes  of  the  forest,  he  rushed  again  un 
awares  directly  into  the  arms  of  his  enemy :  and  again, 
during  his  abode  in  the  Thunder's  Nest,  he  had, when  nearly 
succeeding  in  the  attempt,  been  overtaken  in  the  deep 
snowdrifts,  amid  which  he  must  have  perished,  even  if 
successful,  and  carried  back  in  triumph  to  the  Indian  camp. 

Then,  upon  his  second  recapture,  he  had  undergone  all 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  393 

the  horrors  of  mind  which  must  precede  a  death  of  Indian 
torture  with  those  who  have  read  or  heard  of  its  cruelly 
ingenious  and  protracted  agonies.  He  had  been  subjected 
to  all  the  savage  preparations  for  the  stake,  and  had  then 
confronted  death  in  its  most  awful  shape.  He  had  seen  the 
flames  kindled  around  him.  The  fire-tipped  arrows  had 
been  shot  into  his  body,  and  torments  far  more  excruciat 
ing  were  about  to  follow,  when,  as  an  Indian  beldame  ad 
vanced  to  tear  the  only  remaining  strip  of  vesture  from 
his  body,  the  totem  of  Brant  imprinted  upon  it  was  re 
vealed  to  the  hellish  crew  of  executioners  around  him, 
and  saved  him  from  a  death  so  horrible. 

Since  that  moment,  though  still  strictly  guarded,  he  had 
been  treated  with  all  the  forbearance  which  characterized 
the  conduct  of  the  party  which  had  brought  him  thither, 
though  they  had  long  since  gone  off  and  left  him  in  other 
hands.  But  as,  though  wearing  the  insignia  of  an  imme 
diate  follower  of  Thayendanagea,  he  had  never  undergone 
the  ceremony  of  being  formally  adopted  into  any  tribe  of 
the  Mohawks,  he  was  conscious  that  his  change  of  treat 
ment  arose  only  from  his  being  now  regarded  rather  as  a 
slave  than  a  prisoner.  He  was  determined  once  more  to 
seize  an  opportunity  to  escape,  and  to  perish  rather  than 
be  retaken.  He  relied  much,  however,  it  must  be  confess 
ed,  upon  The  Dew  to  make  such  opportunity  for  him.  Nor 
was  that  hope  and  confidence  misplaced. 

Max,  though  still  given  to  that  half  romantic,  half  phi 
losophic  mood  of  wrapping  one's  self  up  in  one's  own 
dreams  and  speculations,  which  belongs  to  that  inexperi 
enced  season  of  life  when  we  value  our  own  thoughts  far 
more  than  the  material  objects  around  us,  was  still  not  de 
ficient  in  keen  and  curious  observation  of  character.  And 


294  GREYSLAER; 


for  months  it  had  been  one  of  his  chief  mental  resources  to 
study  the  personal  traits  and  peculiarities  of  the  singular 
people  among  whom  his  present  lot  was  cast. 

He  was  sitting  one  morning  a  little  aloof  from  a  group 
of  loungers  of  all  sexes  and  sizes,  listening  to  a  rude  legend 
which  an  old  woman,  employed  in  weaving  mats,  was  re 
lating  for  their  edification.  The  wild  tradition  with  which 
she  was  engaged  related  to  those  strange  subterranean 
sounds  which  are  still,  from  time  to  time,  heard  among 
these  mountains.  She  told  of  some  bold  hunter  who  went 
out  determining  to  trace  the  spot  whence  these  groanings 
of  the  earth  had  travelled  out.  And  Greyslaer,  who  had 
looked  with  a  curious  eye  upon  the  remarkable  peculiar 
ities  of  this  volcanic  region,  bent  near  to  hear  how  the 
strange  fancy  of  an  Iroquois  would  account  for  natural 
phenomena  to  whose  existence  he  himself  could  bear  tes 
timony. 

At  this  moment  the  report  of  a  gun  was  heard  not  far 
off.  It  probably  was  discharged  by  some  hunter  belong 
ing  to  the  camp,  and  excited  no  attention  among  the  listen 
ing  group.  Presently,  however,  The  Dew,  who  had  gone 
down  to  the  shore  of  the  lake  to  bring  water,  appeared, 
and  saying  aloud  that  the  hunter  who  had  just  fired  needed 
the  assistance  of  the  white  man  in  bringing  some  game  to 
camp,  motioned  Greyslaer  the  path  in  which  he  should  go, 
which,  strangely  enough,  was  in  an  opposite  direction  from 
that  whence  the  sound  came.  The  others  were  too  much 
engaged  with  the  story-teller  to  notice  the  discrepancy, 
whose  purport,  however,  was  intuitively  understood  by  the 
prisoner  ;  and,  before  the  approaching  hunter  had  reached 
the  camp  on  the  one  side,  he  had  gained  a  considerable  dis 
tance  on  the  other.  He  pierced  far  into  the  ravine  through 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.        .295 

which  the  waters  of  the  lake  discharge  themselves  from 
the  hollow,  and  now  only  hesitated  which  way  to  turn  his 
steps.  The  ravine,  though  at  first  distinctly  defined,  had, 
within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  lake,  so  broadened  and 
broken  up  into  a  thousand  rocky  inequalities,  that  it  was 
impossible,  as  the  forest  thickened  around  him,  to  tell  what 
route  to  take  in  order  to  descend  the  mountain.  The  out 
let  of  the  lake  would  seem  to  have  been  a  sufficient  guide  ; 
but  this,  a  mere  rill  at  its  commencement,  was  broken  up 
into  a  hundred  slender  threads  of  water,  which,  losing 
themselves  now  among  matted  leaves,  and  now  creeping 
beneath  the  mossy  woof  which  wraps  the  living  rocks  and 
the  rotten  trunks  wedged  between  them,  in  the  same  green 
vesture,  served  only  to  distract  the  judgment  that  would  lean 
upon  them  as  a  guide.  Greyslaer,  in  fact,  had  only  gained 
a  lower  and  broader  basin  than  that  which  held  the  waters 
of  the  lake ;  and  though  it  likewise  was  walled  round  by 
craggy  pinnacles,  yet  here  there  was  a  heavy  forest- 
growth  ;  and  these  barriers  themselves,  as  well  as  the  pas 
sage  through  them,  were  wholly  screened  from  view  by 
the  intervening  foliage. 

But  now,  darting  like  a  bird  from  the  greenwood  covert, 
The  Dew  suddenly  presented  herself  in  the  path  before 
him,  and  beckoned  Max  onward.  As  yet  there  were  no 
signs  of  pursuit  behind  :  but  the  moments  were  precious  ; 
for  the  descent  of  the  mountain  abounded  in  difficulties, 
and  they  had  still  a  ravine  to  gain  and  a  narow  gorge  to 
pass  through  before  gaining  the  bottom  ;  a  gorge  so  nar 
row  that  it  might  serve  as  a  gateway  to  this  labyrinth  of 
natural  fortifications  ;  and  here  a  single  armed  man  might 
prevent  their  egress.  The  maiden  now  doubted  for  a 
moment  what  path  to  take.  The  sides  of  the  ravine  might 


296  GREYSLAER; 


be  the  safest,  if  they  would  avoid  any  chance  wanderers 
returning  to  the  Indian  camp  from  the  valley  below.  But 
these  were  every  here  and  there  broken  by  tall  benches 
of  rock  too  high  to  leap  from,  and  doubling  the  toil  of 
those  who  ever  and  anon  must  climb  over  the  loose  stones 
around  their  base.  The  girl,  therefore,  descended  still 
further  into  the  Hollow,  where  a  sloping  pavement  of 
smooth  rock,  some  hundred  yards  in  length,  seamed  the 
mountain.  It  looked  as  if  it  had  been  once  overlaid  by 
soil  and  forest  growth  like  that  around  ;  but  the  stratum 
of  matted  roots  and  earths  had  been  peeled  off  the  steep 
declivity,  and  the  fountains  of  a  rivulet,  oozing  out  from 
the  compost  of  leaves  and  fibres  which  still  overlaid  the 
upper  end  of  the  slope,  glided  with  thin  and  noiseless  flow 
over  the  naked  rock.  And  now,  as  the  shallow  rill  deep 
ened  into  a  brook,  which  gurgled  among  the  loose  boul 
ders,  they  followed  it  down  as  it  kept  its  way  through  an 
easy  swale  of  less  broken  land. 

The  woods  upon  its  banks  were  here  an  open  growth 
of  ash  and  maple  ;  and  Greyslaer's  confidence  in  the 
sagacity  of  his  guide  was  for  a  moment  shaken  when  he 
saw  her  persist  in  keeping  her  way  along  so  exposed  a 
path.  He  thought  that  they  had  already  gained  the  base 
of  the  mountain,  from  the  lofty  and  frowning  cliffs  of  rock 
which  now  and  then  he  could  descry  afar  off,  lifting  them 
selves  above  the  tree-tops  around.  He  would  fain  have 
struck  off  to  some  thickets  which,  through  these  open 
glades,  could  be  plainly  seen  crowning  the  lower  and 
nearer  ridges  of  rock  that  traversed  the  hillsides  above 
them. 

But  the  girl  directed  his  attention  in  advance,  and,  for 
the  first  time,  he  saw  the  sunshine  playing  upon  som.e 


A    ROMANCE     OF    THE     MOHAWK.  297 

spruce  and  cedar  tops  that  were  immediately  upon  a 
level  with  his  line  of  vision.  She  pointed  to  the  brook, 
still  their  emulous  companion,  and  he  understood  at  once 
that  it  must  have  some  sudden  fall  where  those  trees 
were  growing.  There  must  be  a  change  of  soil,  rocks, 
and  thickets  there  ;  a  swamp,  perhaps,  and  possibly  one 
or  more  tributaries  to  the  brook  ere  it  reached  the  plain 
below.  And,  truly  enough,  the  sound  of  a  waterfall  soon 
greeted  his  ears.  The  sides  of  the  swale  became  steeper, 
and  it  narrowed  at  last  suddenly,  as  if  the  ground  had 
sunk.  There  were  irregular  walls  of  stone  on  either 
side,  with  springs  welling  here  and  there  from  their 
mossy  intervals.  Loose  boulders  clogged  up  the  main 
current  of  the  brook,  which,  foaming  and  fretting  for  a 
while,  emerged  at  last  from  the  rocky  gorge,  and  took  up 
a  more  stately  march  through  the  heavy  forests  that 
spread  themselves  over  a  richer  soil  below. 

The  fugitives  followed  on  until  that  guiding  water 
reached  the  Upper  Hudson,  where  their  toilsome  descent 
from  the  Thunder's  Nest,  but  not  the  peril  of  their  flight, 
was  ended. 

The  spot  where  they  first  gained  the  banks  of  the  wild 
and  romantic  river  of  the  north,  was  a  few  miles  above 
that  beautiful  pass  called  Teohoken  by  the  Indians,  where 
the  dark-rolling  waters  which  form  the  outlet  of  Scroon 
Lake,  sweep  into  the  Hudson.  Here  Max  quickly  con 
structed  a  raft  from  the  floating  timbers  which  he  found 
in  profusion  in  the  eddies  of  the  stream  ;  and  the  two 
voyagers  drifted  down  with  the  current,  till,  reaching  the 
rapids  at  the  approach  of  night,  they  were  compelled  to 
betake  themselves  to  an  island  which  divides  the  waters 
14 


298  GREYSLAER; 


of  the  Hudson  just  above  its  junction  with  the  Scroon,  at 
Teohoken. 

It  was  a  strange  situation  for  the  youthful  captain,  when 
he  found  himself  alone  at  nightfall,  with  that  beautiful, 
elfish  creature,  upon  an  island  of  the  wilderness ;  but  the 
Indian  girl,  seeming  to  take  no  thought  of  the  peculiarity 
of  her  position,  relieved  him  from  the  embarrassment  of 
his.  She  pointed  him  to  a  mossy  bank,  where  a  clump 
of  overshadowing  basswood  kept  off  the  dew  ;  and,  retir 
ing  herself  to  a  leafy  hollowT  not  far  remote,  the  fatigues 
they  had  undergone  soon  plunged  them  both  in  slumber, 
while  the  virgin  moon,  shining  down  upon  an  open  in 
terval  between  them,  was  their  only  sentinel  through  the 
night. 

The  voyagers  gained  the  western  shore  with  the  break 
of  dawn,  and,  following  it  down  till  they  had  passed  the 
rapids,  seized  upon  and  appropriated  a  canoe  which  they 
found  at  the  mouth  of  a  little  trouting  brook  which  comes 
into  the  Hudson  a  short  distance  below  the  forks.  In  this 
they  floated  down  the  rushing  stream,  which,  with  the 
Indian  girl  at  the  helm,  and  Greyslaer  plying  his  active 
paddle  at  the  prow,  whirled  their  frail  bark  safely  over 
its  rocky  channel.  The  rapid  windings  of  the  river,  and 
the  overhanging  woods,  which  at  early  day  let  down  only 
here  and  there  a  burst  of  sunshine  on  its  shadowy  bosom, 
swept  them  so  quickly  from  alternate  light  to  gloom,  that 
the  startled  deer  drinking  from  the  river's  brink,  had 
scarcely  time  to  fix  his  gaze  ere  the  shifting  pageant  had 
passed  away. 

They  came  at  last  within  sound  of  the  falls  of  Tiosa- 
ronda,  and  landing  here  on  the  western  side  of  the  river, 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  299 

near  the  base  of  Senongewoh,  they  circled  the  northern 
side  of  the  hill,  and  struck  into  the  forest  in  a  direction 
towards  Lake  George,  where  Max  hoped  to  find  a  mili 
tary  post  occupied  by  his  countrymen. 

Hitherto  our  bold  voyagers  seemed  to  have  been 
utterly  free  from  pursuit.  But  now  they  had  not  ad 
vanced  far  into  the  forest,  climbing  two  or  three  hilly 
ridges  in  succession,  before  Greyslaer's  steps  were  arrest 
ed  by  a  startling  cry,  which  seemed  to  come  almost  from 
beneath  his  very  feet.  He  looked  up,  and  saw  The  Dew, 
with  one  foot  advanced,  her  hands  averted,  as  if  motion 
ing  him  back,  while  she  herself  gazed  forward,  as  if  trying 
to  pierce  a  shadowy  glen  that  yawned  across  her  path. 
The  yell  was  again  repeated  from  below,  and  the  maid, 
cowering  towards  the  ground,  made  signs  to  Greyslaer 
to  imitate  her  movements.  Crouching  as  she  command 
ed,  he  ventured,  however,  to  approach  with  stealthy 
caution  to  the  place  where  she  stood.  The  Dew  gently 
moved  the  tilting  boughs  of  a  stunted  hemlock  which  was 
in  the  rifted  side  of  the  cliff  on  whose  edge  she  hovered  : 
a  sprinkling  of  light  showered  upon  the  bald  rock,  and, 
as  Max  peered  through  the  leafy  grating,  which  the  hand 
of  the  maid  had  partially  removed,  the  cause  of  her  agita 
tion  was  at  once  revealed  to  him. 

A  band  of  Mohawks  were  clustered  around  what 
seemed  to  be  the  fresh  track  of  a  white  man  in  the  forest. 
Greyslaer,  from  the  intervening  foliage,  could  by  no 
means  distinguish  the  object  at  which  the  Indians  point 
ed,  but  the  significant  gestures  of  the  whole  party  left  no 
doubt  upon  his  mind  that  the  joyful  discovery  of  an  ene 
my's  trail  had  caused  the  wild  yell  which  first  startled 
him  and  his  companion.  The  Indians  had  apparently 


300  GREYSLAER; 


been  pursuing  their  way  through  the  ravine  in  a  direc 
tion  nearly  parallel  to  that  which  he  was  traversing. 
The  next  moment,  and  the  whole  band  had  disappeared 
from  beneath  his  eye  ;  the  Mohawks  vanishing  behind 
the  gray  trees  so  suddenly  and  silently,  that,  as  their 
painted  forms  and  tufted  plumage  disappeared  amid  the 
dark  foliage,  it  seemed  as  if  some  wild  vision  of  the  forest 
had  melted  amid  its  glooms  ;  and  he  almost  expected 
them  to  reappear  the  next  moment  by  his  side  from  be 
neath  the  rugged  bark  of  the  huge  oaks  around  him  ; 
such  as  unfolded  to  release  the  fabled  Dryads  of  old. 

The  Dew  waited  until  sufficient  time  had  elapsed  for 
the  Indians  to  gain  several  hundred  yards,  and  then, 
motioning  to  Greyslaer  to  tread  carefully  in  her  foot 
steps,  descended  the  steep  bank  a  few  paces  and  com 
menced  moving  rapidly  along  the  hillside.  She  had  not 
proceeded  far  in  this  direction,  however,  before,  coming 
to  a  spot  where  some  huge  rocks,  covered  only  with  dog- 
briers,  let  down  the  light  too  broadly  into  the  forest,  she 
turned  abruptly  from  the  path,  thridded  the  thorny  defile, 
and,  crossing  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  ridge,  regained 
the  point  from  which  she  had  recently  started.  The  old 
path  was  then  followed  back  for  full  a  mile,  and  then 
again  as  suddenly  left  as  before.  Four  distinct  trails 
were  thus  made  to  branch  out  at  intervals  from  that 
which  Max  and  his  guide  were  actually  travelling ;  and 
the  maid,  seeming  content  with  these  precautions,  now 
kept  the  way  steadily  forward ;  save  that,  ever  and  anon, 
she  would  pause  for  a  moment  in  some  more  open  glade, 
poise  herself  upon  some  fallen  trunk,  throw  a  keen  but 
furtive  glance  around  her,  and  then  flit  lightly  as  a  bird 
from  its  perch  into  the  leafy  shadows  beyond. 


A    KOMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  301 

A  deep  swamp  received  them  next ;  and  no  youth  less 
light  of  foot  than  Greyslaer  could  have  kept  up  with  the 
forest  damsel  as  she  glided  from  one  half-floating  tussock 
to  another,  her  feet  scarce  touching  the  black  and  slippery 
logs,  which,  plunged  as  they  were  in  the  slimy  mould, 
afforded  yet  the  firmest  stepping-place  around. 

A  windfall  upon  the  hillside  was  to  be  traversed  nexi. 
The  uprooted  trees,  wrenched  from  their  ancient  seats  by 
the  tornado's  force,  lay  with  their  twisted  stems,  their 
boughs  fast  locked  together,  their  enormous  roots  turned 
vertically  to  the  sky,  with  fragments  of  rock  and  clay 
matted  by  their  fibres,  and  walling  one  side  of  the  pit  from 
which  they  had  been  upturned,  while  barriers  of  rankly- 
grown  briers  inclosed  the  others.  But  the  splintered 
tree,  the  thorny  copse,  the  deep  pitfalls,  the  palisade  of 
gnarled  roots  and  jagged  rocks  protruding  from  them, 
offered  no  obstacle  to  the  fairy  footsteps  of  The  Dew. 
The  little  crossbill  of  the  mountain,  the  bird  that  best  loves 
the  "windfall,"  and  whose  twinkling  form  and  brown  and 
gray  plumage  is  often  the  only  object  that  enlivens  these 
ghastly  wrecks  of  the  forest,  seemed  hardly  more  at  home 
among  them. 

A  tract  of  level  land  was  gained  at  last.  It  was  a  pine 
barren,  where  the  trees  shot  upward,  a  hundred  feet  or 
more,  with  not  a  leaf  of  underwood  around  their  stems, 
with  not  a  shrub  below  them,  and  scarcely  a  green  bough 
appearing  to  break  the  monotonous  range  of  columns,  save 
those  which  formed  the  verdant  roof  which  shut  in  this 
solemn  temple.  The  brown  maid  here  told  her  white 
companion  to  take  the  lead.  She  pointed  through  an  al 
most  straight  vista  between  the  interminable  trunks ;  and 
Max,  seeing  his  way  before  him,  stepped  fleetly  forward, 


302  G.REYSLAER; 


his  companion  treading  cautiously  in  his  footsteps  upon 
the  yielding  sand. 

They  had  nearly  crossed  these  dangerously  open  glades, 
when  Greyslaer  suddenly  felt  a  light  hand  upon  his  shoul 
der  ;  he  turned  and  saw  the  girl  pointing,  with  an  agitated 
look,  to  an  object  that  was  advancing  toward  them  nearly 
in  the  direct  line  they  were  travelling.  It  was  an  Indian 
just  emerging  from  the  thickets  of  ash  and  maple  that 
grew  upon  the  edge  of  the  barren.  A  few  moments  more, 
and  they  would  have  gained  the  same  leafy  covert. 

The  girl  in  an  instant  knew  the  man  for  a  Mohawk. 
She  waited  not  to  see  whether  he  was  followed  by  others. 
It  might  be  one  of  the  same  band  she  had  seen  a  few  hours 
before  upon  the  trail  of  the  white  hunter ;  and,  if  so,  all 
her  efforts  to  avoid  them  had  but  involved  her  friend  in 
their  toils.  But  whether  it  were  the  same  or  another 
party  of  her  tribesmen,  it  mattered  not ;  the  life  of  Grey 
slaer  now  depended  more  than  ever  upon  her  faithful  and 
sagacious  guidance.  The  Indian  paused  and  looked  back 
ward,  as  if  awaiting  the  coming  up  of  his  party.  The 
Dew  seized  the  moment,  and,  followed  by  Greyslaer,  sped 
backward  on  her  path.  She  crossed  and  recrossed  it 
repeatedly,  Greyslaer  now  in  his  turn  stepping  lightly  and 
carefully  in  her  footprints,  so  as  to  cover,  yet  not  wholly 
erase  them,  while  their  way  yet  lay  through  the  sands  of 
the  pine  barren. 

They  gained  at  last  the  thick  greenwood,  where  the 
deciduous  trees  imbowered  their  path,  and  the  elastic  car 
pet  of  moss  and  wild  flowers,  and  spongy  trunks  over 
grown  with  juniper,  and  tangled  thickets  of  moose-wood 
and  wytch-hopple,  gave  now  the  springy  footing  the  tired 
hunter  loves,  and  now  afforded  the  deep  covert  where  the 
hounded  deer  will  seek  to  hide. 


A     ROMANCE    OF     THE    MOHAWK.  -J03 

Proceeding  thus  in  a  westward  direction,  the  fugitives 
soon  found  themselves  again  within  sight  of  the  river,  and 
near  the  very  place  where  they  had  landed  in  the  morn 
ing.  The  current  ran  swiftly,  but  they  did  not  hesitate  to 
ford  it,  and  clamber  a  mountainous  ridge  opposite.  They 
paused  upon  a  lofty  ledge  of  rock  to  look  back,  and  saw 
their  pursuers  already  in  the  stream.  They  crossed  the 
ridge  and  descended  to  the  other  side.  They  gained  the 
banks  of  another  river  not  larger  than  the  first,  but  hesi 
tated  to  cross  ;  for  the  yell  of  the  Indians  was  echoed 
from  the  rocks  above  them,  and  they  feared  to  be  seen 
while  making  the  passage.  Whither  shall  they  now  fly  ? 
They  turn  and  follow  down  the  stream,  though  it  leads 
them  nearly  in  the  direction  from  which  the  pursuit  is 
coming  ;  but  their  only  hope  is  in  doubling  thus  upon  their 
tracks.  They  make  the  point  where  the  two  branches 
meet  and  mingle  their  waters.  They  turn  to  leave  the 
stream  they  have  been  following,  and  clamber  up  the  sides 
of  the  glen  through  which  it  flows,  and  find  themselves 
upon  a  narrow  isthmus,  with  another  stream,  deeper  and 
far  more  violent,  roaring  around  its  rocky  base.  Max 
approached  the  verge  of  the  precipice,  and  despaired  of 
proceeding  further.  The  cliff  opposite  was  steep  as 
that  whereon  they  stood.  The  main  stream,  whose  tribu 
tary  it  seemed  he  had  been  last  traversing,  had  here  cloven 
its  way  through  a  rocky  ridge  in  a  channel  so  narrow 
that  any  of  the  trees  around  him  would  span  the  black 
chasm.  But  he  had  no  axe  to  fell  one,  nor  would  he  have 
dared  to  disturb  the  echoes  of  the  forest  if  one  were  at 
hand. 

At  this  moment  the  shrill  whoop  of  the  Mohawks  rose 
fearfully  behind  him.     They  were  near.     He  spoke  a  few 


304  GREYSLAER; 


words  to  his  companion,  seized  a  pendant  vine  that  flour 
ished  near  the  spot,  and  flung  himself  out  from  the  face  of 
the  cliff,  as  if  determined  to  drop  into  the  roaring  current, 
and  take  his  chance  for  escape  in  its  angry  bosom.  He 
cast  one  glance  back  on  the  maid  ere  he  let  himself  drop 
in  the  tide  below.  She  had  not  sprung  forward  to  pre 
vent  him,  but  stood  with  folded  arms  and  a  look  of  indig 
nant  sorrow  upon  her  brow.  Was  it  mingled  scorn  and 
pity  that  he  should  thus  desert  his  preserver  ?  So  thought 
Greyslaer,  as,  still  holding  his  grasp  on  the  vine,  he  per 
mitted  himself  to  swing  back  by  her  side.  "Surely  you 
can  swim,  you  do  not  shrink  from  trying  that  stream  with 
me,"  he  cried. 

"  Were  my  brother  an  otter,  he  could  not  live  in  that 
terrible  water,"  replied  the  maiden. 

The  whoop  was  again  pealed  nearer  and  more  near  ; 
it  rose,  too,  this  time,  from  a  dozen  savage  voices.  The 
girl  wrung  her  hands  as  if  in  despair,  while  Greyslaer 
folded  his  arms  and  leaned  against  a  tree,  as  if  moodily 
resigned  to  his  fate.  Suddenly,  however,  the  thought  of 
a  new  device  inspired  The  Dew.  She  clambered  like  a 
squirrel  toward  the  tree-top  from  which  the  vine  depend 
ed  ;  loosing  a  long  and  vigorous  tendril  from  the  stem  as 
she  ascended,  she  quickly  passed  another  and  a  smaller 
one  round  it,  so  as  to  attach  it  firmly  to  a  projecting  bough  ; 
descended  a  few  yards,  and,  grasping  the  vine  tightly  in 
her  hands,  darted  out  from  the  wall  of  foliage  like  a  swal 
low  from  the  face  of  a  cliff,  cleared  the  chasm,  and  landed 
safely  upon  a  dizzy  ledge  opposite. 

Greyslaer,  who,  unappalled  for  himself,  had  but  a  few 
moments  before  hung  suspended  over  the  gulf  below,  cov 
ered  his  face  with  his  hands  in  the  instant  the  daring  feat 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  3Q5 

was  in  the  act  of  being  accomplished ;  and,  almost  ere  he 
could  look  again,  the  maid  had  recrossed  the  chasm  and 
dropped  nimbly  by  his  side.  But  why  did  they  still  de 
lay  ?  The  sound  of  pursuit  grew  nigher,  yet  Max  refused 
to  take  the  chance  of  escape,  of  which  his  noble  guide  had 
so  daringly  set  him  the  example,  until  she  herself  was  in 
a  place  of  safety.  The  breath  of  an  instant  was  precious, 
and  now  The  Dew  again  made  the  airy  passage,  and  was 
followed  by  her  friend  the  instant  he  could  recover  the 
vine  as  it  swung  back  within  his  reach.  The  Dew,  with 
Indian  precaution,  seized  it  once  more  as  he  was  thought 
lessly  about  releasing  it  from  his  grasp,  and,  winding  the 
end  around  a  heavy  stone,  she  handed  it  to  Max,  and  sig 
nified  to  him  to  throw  it  into  a  thicket  upon  the  same  side 
of  the  stream  whereon  it  grew.  The  two  had  then  barely 
time  to  plunge  into  the  bushes  beyond  them,  when  the 
pursuing  Mohawks  appeared  upon  the  headland  opposite, 
and  they  soon  after  heard  their  baffled  howl  of  disappoint 
ment  at  the  broken  and  lost  trail  of  the  fugitives. 


14* 


306  GREYSLAER; 


CHAPTER    V. 

A    NIGHT    IN    THE    WHOOPING    HOLLOW. 

"  Then  sweet  the  hour  that  brings  release 

From  danger  and  from  toil, 
"We  talk  the  battle  over, 

And  share  the  battle's  spoil." 

Song  of  Marion's  Men. 

"  A  gentle  arm  entwines  her  form,  a  voice  is  in  her  ear, 
Which  even  in  death's  cold  grasp  itself  'twould  win  her  back  to  hear  ; 
Now  happy  is  that  Santee  maid,  and  proudly  bless'd  is  he, 
And  in  her  face  the  tear  and  smile  are  strangely  sweet  to  see." 

SIMMS. 

THE  Whooping  Hollow  lay  now"  directly  in  their  route 
to  Fort  George,  and  thither  the  footsteps  of  the  fugitives 
were  directed.  The  Dew  was  faint  from  hunger,  and  the 
weary  spirits  of  Greyslaer  were  anything  but  cheered  by 
the  desolate  scene  of  that  swampy-shored  lake,  with  here 
and  there  a  dead  tree  waving  the  long  moss  from  its  gray 
arms  as  it  stood  solitary  amid  the  half-floating  bog.  All 
concern  for  himself,  however,  was  forgotten  in  distressing 
anxiety  for  his  companion. 

They  had  still  eight  or  ten  miles  to  travel  to  reach  Fort 
William  Henry,  and  the  day  was  nearly  spent.  But  now 
a  new  source  of  interest  presented  itself  to  stimulate  his 
nerves.  He  heard  a  distant  volley  of  fire-arms,  followed 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE    MOHAWK.  307 

by  a  broken  but  rapid  discharge,  as  of  a  running  fight  be 
yond  the  hills.  It  neared  him,  and  he  fancied  he  could 
hear  the  rallying  shout  of  white  combatants  mingling 
hoarsely  with  the  shrill  yell  of  Indian  onslaught.  Un 
armed  as  he  was,  Greyslaer  bounded  forward,  as  if  to  aid 
those  of  his  own  blood,  who,  it  would  seem,  were  borne 
down  in  the  battle.  He  turned  to  give  one  look  at  his 
companion.  The  languid  eyes  of  the  Iroquois  girl  kin 
dled  with  new  life  as  she  motioned  to  him  to  leave  her  to 
her  fate  and  rush  forward. 

But  now,  again,  another  volley,  another  shout,  and  then 
the  Indian  whoop  grew  fainter  and  fainter,  as  of  men 
scattered  and  fleeing  in  pursuit.  He  listened  intently,  but 
the  sounds  of  the  battle  had  died  away  in  the  distance. 

The  twilight  has  come,  the  night  closes  in,  and  again 
the  moon  marches  up  the  heavens  to  cheer  the  wander 
ers,  if,  indeed,  her  ghastly  light,  shining  down  among  those 
haggard  trees,  and  gleaming  upon  the  pool  that  has  set 
tled  in  that  dreary  hollow,  have  aught  of  cheering  in  it. 
The  gentle-souled  Greyslaer  looks  often  into  the  deep  and 
languid  eyes  of  the  suffering  and  innocent-hearted  girl 
who  had  dared  and  endured  so  much  for  him.  He  blames 
himself  for  having  permitted  her  to  encounter  the  perils 
they  had  undergone ;  not  the  least  of  which,  that  of  star 
vation  in  the  wilderness,  they  are  now  beginning  to  realize. 
The  fort,  it  is  true,  is  not  far ;  but  will  The  Dew  have 
strength  to  reach  it  on  the  morrow  ? 

He  made  her  a  couch  of  fern  and  leaves,  where  the 
cradling  roots  of  an  ancient  birch  supplied  her  mossy  pil 
low  :  and  now  she  shrank  not  from  his  ministering  care 
as  he  sat  near,  watching  till  her  eyes  were  closed  in  slum 
ber.  But  hark  !  there  are  other  human  sounds  in  the 


308  GREYSLAER; 


forest  besides  the  cry  of  the  whooping  savage  or  the  dis 
tant  din  of  border  conflict.  Can  it  be  a  crew  of  merry 
makers,  or  is  it  only  the  echoes  of  the  place  which  wake 
in  chorus  to  the  song  now  trolled  along  the  hillside  : 

"  Room,  boys,  room,  by  the  light  of  the  moon, 
Oh  why  shouldn't  every  man  enjoy  hia  own  room  ? 
Enough  in  the  greenwood,  if  not  in  the  hall, 
By  the  light  of  the  moon  there's  enough  for  us  all." 

"  Hist !  halloo  there,  white  man  !  where  the  devil  do  you 
come  from  ?"  cried  the  foremost  of  the  forest  choir,  ad 
vancing  from  under  the  boughs  into  the  moonlight,  and 
levelling  his  rifle  upon  Greyslaer  as  he  spoke.  "  King  or 
Congress !  Speak  up,  my  good  fellow,  if  you've  got  a 
tongue." 

"  De  Roos !" 

"  Whose  voice  is  that  ?  Good  God  !  Max  Greyslaer, 
is  it  your  living  self  that  I  hold  in  my  arms  ?"  And  the 
impetuous  brother  of  Alida — for  it  was  no  other  than  Der 
rick  himself — drew  back  from  the  embrace  of  Greyslaer, 
into  which  he  had  thrown  himself,  to  look  earnestly  into 
the  wan  features  of  his  long-lost  friend.  Their  aspect  of 
suffering  filled  him  with  emotions  which  he  could  only  con 
ceal  in  part,  as  turning  round  he  shouted  to  his  comrades, 

"  Bait,  Lansingh,  Miller,  carry  on,  men,  carry  on.  Here 
are  more  wonders  in  the  woods  to-night  than  those  we've 
yet  dreamed  of." 

But  Bait  had  heard  the  first  joyful  cry  of  recognition 
between  the  friends,  and  was  already  hugging  Greyslaer 
in  his  arms  with  an  unceremonious  vigor,  that  sensibly  re 
minded  Max  of  De  Roos's  unfortunate  speech,  assimilating 
him  to  a  bear,  which  had  once  given  such  deep  offence  to 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  30<J 

the  worthy  woodsman.  The  salutations  of  the  other 
hunters,  though,  of  course,  less  familiar,  were  hardly  less 
hearty,  as  Bait  stood  by  and  proudly  encouraged  them  to 
come  up  and  take  the  hand  of  his  old  pupil. 

"  Didn't  I  tell  ye,  boys,"  said  he,  "  that  young  Max  would 
come  to  hand  the  right  side  up  ?  Alive  ?  eh  !  only  look 
at  the  young  springald.  Thin  and  raw-boned  as  he  is, 
there's  life  enough  in  him  to  squeeze  it  out  of  any  of  us. 
Law  sorts,  Capting  Max,  how  your  shoulders  have  spread ; 
and  your  face,  too,  is  as  brown  as  Kit  Lansingh's  here. 
Kit,  you  land-lougher,  stand  up  and  measure  hathes  with 
the  capting." 

But  Greyslaer  had  turned  away,  and  was  bending  with 
anxious  solicitude  over  a  figure  that  had  hitherto  escaped 
the  notice  of  his  friends.  "  Some  water,  Bait ;  quickly, 
in  the  name  of  Heaven,  quickly,  old  man.  She  faints,  she 
faints,"  said  Greyslaer,  in  tones  of  almost  agonizing  solici 
tude,  as  he  supported  the  sinking  head  of  The  Dew  upon 
his  bosom.  "  Ah  !  they'll  be  an  age  in  returning  from  the 
lake.  Your  canteen,  De  Roos;  a  drop  from  that  may  yet 
revive  her." 

De  Roos  tore  the  canteen  from  his  side ;  and,  as  Max 
applied  the  cordial  to  her  lips,  the  maid  opened  her  eyes. 

"  Have  you  no  refreshment — a  single  biscuit  in  your 
pouch  ?"  asked  Greyslaer. 

"  Here's  a  corn-cake,  captain,"  said  a  hunter,  handing 
a  fragment  of  the  coarse  bread  to  Greyslaer. 

"  Yes,  and  we  can  soon  get  you  up  plenty  of  venison," 
cried  Lansingh,  who  now  returned  from  the  lake-side  with 
the  water,  for  which  two  or  three  of  his  comrades  had 
simultaneously  rushed  together. 

"Off,  then,  with  you  at  once,  Kit,"  rejoined  Bait,  who 


310  GREYSLAER; 

now  came  puffing  and  blowing  up  the  hill.  "  We  must 
needs  camp  here,  I  take  it ;  for  the  gal's  state  won't  allow 
her  removal  to-night.  Who'd  a'  guessed,  though,  of  find 
ing  a  petticoat  here  with  the  capting  ?" 

"  Carry  on,  boys,  carry  on,  then  ;  get  up  your  shanties 
as  soon  as  may  be,"  said  De  Roos,  while  those  of  the 
hunters  who  had  not  gone  off  with  Lansingh  after  the  re 
mains  of  the  deer  upon  which  they  had  already  feasted, 
bestirred  themselves  on  every  side.  Some  cut  stakes 
and  rafters  for  the  frame  of  the  wigwam ;  some  peeled  the 
heavy  bark  from  ancient  hemlocks,  which,  though  prostrate 
upon  the  ground,  had  not  yet  mouldered,  spreading  the 
broad  pieces  over  the  roof  and  adown  the  sides  ;  while 
others  strewed  the  floor  of  the  shanty  with  the  fragrant 
branches  shorn  from  the  living  tree,  after  felling  it  for  the 
purpose  of  being  thus  stripped.  Some  busied  themselves 
in  kindling  a  fire  before  the  opening  of  this  sylvan  shed, 
while  the  forest  resounded  \vith  the  stroke  of  the  axe,  as 
others  felled  the  hard-wood  trees,  chopped  them  up,  and 
piled  them  near  to  feed  the  growing  flame  when  wanted. 

Greyslaer,  in  the  mean  time,  now  that  his  anxiety  about 
4<  The  Dew"  was  relieved,  summarily  detailed  his  principal 
adventures,  speaking  always  of  the  disinterested  and  heroic 
Indian  girl  in  terms  that  would  have  deepened  even  the 
color  of  her  red  cheek  could  she  have  understood  the 
language  in  which  they  were  uttered.  De  Roos,  in  return, 
gave  him  information  of  both  a  public  and  private  nature 
which  claimed  his  deepest  interest.  The  account  which 
Derrick  gave  him  of  Alida's  escape  from  the  cavern  of 
Waneonda,  though  bringing  to  Max  the  blessed  assurance 
of  her  present  safety,  was  anything  but  satisfactory ;  for 
while  the  hot-headed  Derrick  inveighed  against  the  whole 


A  ROMANCE  OF  THE  MOHAWK.     Si  I 

race  of  rascally  Tories,  as  concerned  in  her  imprisonment, 
Greyslaer  could  not  but  have  his  own  convictions  that  this 
mysterious  business  was  one  with  which  the  royalists  as 
a  party  had  but  little  to  do.  This,  however,  was  not  the 
moment  to  dwell  upon  a  subject  so  painful.  Nor  was  De 
Roos  the  character  with  whom  he  could  venture  upon  any 
half-formed  surmises,  without  betraying  the  confidence  of 
Alida  to  the  full  extent  that  she  had  intrusted  him  in  her 
affairs. 

"  But  tell  me,  De  Roos,"  cried  Max,  making  an  effort  to 
dash  these  bewildering  thoughts  from  his  mind,  "  how  came 
you  in  these  woods  with  old  Bait  ?" 

"  With  old  Bait  ?  Why,  an  hour  since,  I  believed  truly 
that  he  was  a  hundred  miles  from  here,  as  I  did  that  you, 
dear  Max,  were  enjoying  the  hospitality  of  our  refugee 
friends  in  Canada.  Bait  must  tell  you  himself  how  he 
came  here  ;  for  I  deferred  hearing  his  story  till  we  gained 
his  camp,  whither  he  was  conducting  me  when  I  fell  in 
with  you." 

"  But  yourself;  how  came  you  here  yourself?" 

"  Oh,  why,  you  know,  we  are  only  a  few  miles  from  the 
fort ;  so  it's  no  great  wonder  that  I  should  be  here.  Van 
Schaick  sent  me  yesterday  to  look  after  some  batteaux  at 
Glen's  Falls,  which  are  ordered  up  from  below  for  the 
transportation  of  the  baggage  of  the  command  which, 
you  knowr,  has  been  relieved." 

"  I  know  ?  How  should  I  know  anything  about  the 
matter,  or  imagine,  even,  that  you  were  at  Fort  George, 
or  who,  indeed,  was  its  commandant  ?" 

"  True,  ay,  true  ;  I  forgot  how  you  have  been  cooped  up 
in  these  stirring  times.  Well,  you  see,  as  I  was  about  to 
mention,  an  incidental  part  of  my  duty  led  me  back  to  the 


312  GREYSLAER; 


lake  by  this  route,  which  is  only  a  few  miles  longer  to  the 
fort.  Gansevoort,  our  lieutenant-colonel,  got  some  in 
formation  from  Albany  a  day  or  two  since  about  that  cut 
throat  Tory,  Joe  Bettys,  who " 

"  Joe  Bettys,  the  cut-throat  Tory !"  cried  Greyslaer, 
.echoing  his  words  in  astonishment.  "  What,  not  Ensign 
Joe  Bettys,  who  was  so  ardent  a  Whig,  albeit  a  boon 
companion  and  crony  of  the  Tory  Bradshawe  ?" 

"  The  same  man,  Max ;  and  a  brave  Whig,  too,  he 
proved  himself  under  Arnold  in  Canada.  But,  either  from 
some  disgust  with  our  officers,  or  an  original  want  of 
principle,  he  has  been  won  over  to  the  other  side,  and 
commenced  his  Tory  career  in  a  dashing  style,  that  must 
make  him  long  remembered  in  these  parts.  He  is  said  to 
have  taken  up  his  quarters  here  in  the  Whooping  Hollow, 
and,  assuming  the  disguise  of  a  mongrel  mountebank,  an 
outcast  Indian  vagrant,  whom  he  killed,  he  has  practised 
so  successfully  upon  the  superstitious  fears  of  the  people 
below,  that  they  would  make  no  effort  to  follow  and  seize 
him  upon  his  retreating  here  after  some  deed  of  blood  or 
plunder.  So  I  took  an  Indian  guide,  and  came  poking 
through  here  to  see  if  I  could  beat  up  his  quarters  in  pass 
ing,  or,  at  least,  light  upon  his  trail." 

"  And  you  fell  in  with  Bait " 

"  Just  in  time  to  lend  a  volley  which  saved  him  from 
a  devil  of  a  licking ;  for  he  and  his  handful  of  hunters 
were  mad  enough  to  engage  with  a  score  of  Mohawks, 
led  on,  as  I  suspect,  by  Isaac  Brant,  or  Au-neh-yesh,  as 
he  calls  himself." 

"  Isaac  Brant  ?  Why,  I  have  already  told  you  that  I 
left  him  upon  the  shores  of  a  lake  far  west  of  this  a  dying 
man,  as  I  thought,  and " 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  313 

"  Ay,  but  that  was  some  six  months  since,  if  I  under 
stood  you  rightly  ;  and  I  assure  you  he  is  bloody  Isaac 
Redivivus  now.  Everybody  has  nine  lives  in  these  times. 
Isaac  I  know  at  least  to  be  alive  and  kicking  ;  for,  with 
Kasselman,  Empie,  and  other  scoundrelly  Tories  who 
fight  under  the  disguise  of  Indians,  he  makes  as  much 
noise  in  this  neighborhood  as  his  father,  with  fifty  times 
the  number  of  men,  is  creating  along  the  Unadilla  region. 
There  is,  though,  a  touch  of  humanity  about  old  Joseph 
that  his  son  is  wholly  innocent  of." 

"And  you  think,  then,  that  Isaac's  tribesmen,  who  were 
in  pursuit  of  me,  guided  him  hither  to-night  ?" 

"  Even  so." 

"But  the  friendly  Indian  who  was  your  pioneer  to  the 
Hollow,  I  don't  see  him  here." 

"  He  loitered  behind,  where  I  left  my  corporal  to  bury 
some  two  or  three  brave  fellows  whom  I  have  lost  by  this 
night's  business.  By  the  way-,  it  is  our  old  boyish  friend 
Teondetha.  The  Try  on  county  committee  sent  him  as  a 
runner  to  Albany,  whence  he  was  despatched  with  the 
message  to  the  fort,  requiring  the  presence  of  our  regi 
ment  to  overawe  the  Tories  on  the  Mohawk.  But  here 
comes  Miller  and  his  men.  You  put_those  brave  boys  to 
bed  safely,  Miller?" 

"Safely  and  snugly,  captain;  neither  wolves  nor  In 
dians  will  trouble  them,  I  reckon,"  replied  the  corporal, 
touching  his  hat. 

"  Where's  the  Oneida  ?" 

"  He  cleared  out  as  soon  as  he  had  taken  the  hair  of 
the  redskins  that  fell  on  the  other  side.  I  mistrust  he  has 
followed  on  to  see  if  he  couldn't  add  another  scalp  to  his 
string." 


314  GREYSLAER; 


"It's  the  natur  of  all  of  them,"  ejaculated  Bait ;  "dog 
eating  dog.  He  must  have  had  good  picking,  too,  among 
the  dead  varmint,  Adam  ;  for  there  they  lay  on  the  grass, 
six  big  buck  Injuns,  likely  fellows  all,  besides  a  withered 
chap  that  I  clipped  over  with  my  hatchet,  and  left  to  curl 
up  and  die." 

"  And  the  boy,"  said  De  Roos,  without  heeding  Bait's 
words,  in  a  slight  tone  of  anxiety ;  "  you  saw  nothing  of 
the  boy,  Adam  ?" 

"  A'othing,  captain  !  The  brat  was  missing  from  the 
moment  we  came  in  sight  of  the  enemy.  Isaac's  people 
must  have  swooped  him  up  in  a  moment;  and  he  doubt 
less  was  glad  enough  to  go  with  them." 

"  What  boy  is  that  you  speak  of?"  asked  Greyslaer, 
with  some  anxiety. 

"  Xobody — nothing — only  a  half-breed  brat  that  we 
picked  up  on  our  march.  Near  the  falls,  wasn't  it,  Mil 
ler  ?" 

"Yes,  captain,  in  the  shanty  at  the  batteaux  landing 
which  you  visited  when  we  went  down  afore,  you  know. 
That  time,  I  mean,  when  you  had  high  words  with  the 
old  woman,  because  you  said  you  knew  better  when  she 
declared  that  the  child  ou^ht  rightfully  to  belong  to  Isaac 

o  o  •/  o 

Brant,  whose  son  he  was,  and  when " 

"  Silence,  sir,"  commanded  De  Roos,  who  seemed  both 
irritated  and  annoyed  by  the  loquacity  of  his  non-commis 
sioned  officer.  "  There  was  no  child  there  at  the  time, 
you  know  well,  Miller." 

"  Ceriing  /  there  was  not,  capting ;  but  you  know  you 
asked  when  next  he  would  be  there,  or  his  mother,  I  for 
get  which." 

"  Wel_,  well,  it's  no  matter  what  you  forget,  so   you 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  315 

don't,  forget  your  duty,  which  no  one  can  accuse  you  of, 
my  brave  fellow.  And  now  let  your  me*  build  another 
fire  for  themselves,  for  here  come  the  hunters  with  some 
thing  to  make  a  broil." 

Greyslaer,  in  the  mean  time,  had  listened  to  this  dia 
logue  with  an  interest  much  beyond  that  of  ordinary  curi 
osity.  The  early  dissipation  of  Mad  Dirk  de  Roos,  as  his 
friend  was  universally  called  when  they  were  college 
mates  together,  was  not  unknown  to  him  ;  for,  though 
younger  than  Derrick,  yet,  being  of  a  graver  and  more 
earnest  character,  he  had  often  taken  upon  himself  the 
duty  of  an  older  person  in  lecturing  his  hair-brained  chum. 
He  recollected  well  that,  during  one  of  their  vacation 
visits  to  the  Hawksnest,  the  scandal  of  the  country  people 
had  associated  De  Roos's  name  with  that  of  a  beautiful 
squaw,  who,  those  connected  with  the  Indian  office  at 
Guy  Park  said,  was  betrothed  to  Isaac  Brant.  He  re 
membered,  too,  that,  one  Christmas  morning.  Guy  John 
son  rode  over  to  the  Hawksnest  with  a  magistrate,  who 
was  at  the  Park  enjoying  the  hospitality  of  the  season, 
and  closeted  themselves  with  his  guardian,  De  Roos's  fa 
ther,  upon  business  which,  though  deemed  by  the  family 
to  be  of  a  political  nature,  had  filled  him  with  anxiety  for 
his  friend,  who  was  absent  at  the  time.  And  more  facts 
and  reminiscences  equally  linked  together,  and  having 
the  bearing  of  strong  circumstantial  evidence  upon  this 
delicate  matter,  might  have  suggested  themselves  to 
Greyslaer's  mind,  had  he  not  suddenly  been  startled  from 
his  painful  musings  by  a  wild  cry  of  joy  from  The  Dew 
as  Teondetha  suddenly  presented  himself  in  the  light  of 
the  fire  before  her. 

The  maid  recoiled  abashed  and  agitated  the  instant  she 


316  UHEYSLAER; 


had  uttered  this  natural  outbreak  of  her  feelings,  while 
Teondetha,  whoijfcwith  noiseless  step,  had  approached  to 
light  his  calumet  by  the  fire,  started  erect  from  his  stoop 
ing  posture,  and  gazed  with  eagle  glance  around.  But 
the  girl  had  sunk  back  upon  the  pile  of  brush  upon  which 
she  was  reclining  in  one  corner  of  the  shanty,  and  the 
tall  spire  of  flame  which  shot  up  between  them  prevented 
her  for  a  moment  from  being  seen  by  her  lover.  De 
Roos,  in  high  spirits,  as  usual,  was  busy  superintending 
the  preparations  for  supper  at  the  different  fires,  and  jok 
ing  with  the  men  grouped  around  them  as  he  restlessly 
moved  to  and  fro  from  one  to  the  other.  Greyslaer  alone 
had  his  eye  upon  the  Indian  pair,  and.  as  he  now  fully 
understood  their  language,  he  was  not  a  little  amused 
with  the  cool  generalship  with  which  the  Oneida  made 
his  advances. 

"My  sister,"  said  Teondetha,  seating  himself  on  a  log 
near  the  opening  of  the  shanty,  the  moment  he  discovered 
the  vicinity  of  his  lady-love  ;  "  how  is  it  with  her  ?" 

"  As  with  the  bird  that  has  wandered  from  its  nest,  and 
knows  not  where  to  alight.  As  with  the  sunbeam  that 
drops  into  the  forest,  and  finds  no  sister  ray  to  receive 
and  mingle  with  her  beneath  its  chilling  leaves." 

"  Teondetha  is  the  tree  whereon  the  bird  would  alight.  * 
His  heart  is  the  fountain  that  would  send  back  a  ray  to 
mingle  with  the  sunbeam.  Teondetha  is  a  great  warrior. 
He  must  build  a  lodge  of  his  own,  wherein  to  hang  up  the 
scalps  of  his  enemies.  Who  will  be  there  to  light  the 
pipe  of  the  young  chief?" 

The  girl,  so  far    from    shrinking    at  sight  of  the  gory 

*  The  meaning  of  Teondetha  is  "  a  fallen  tree" 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  317 

trophies  at  his  belt,  gazed  now  admiringly  upon  them  as 
her  half-savage  lover  held  them  up  to  her  eyes. 

"  The  young  chief  has  earned  a  right  to  smoke  before 
the  women,"  she  said.  "  The  Dew  will  not  extinguish  his 
pipe  when  he  lights  it." 

"  Good  !"  said  the  copper-colored  gallant ;  and,  bending 
over  the  coals,  he  carelessly  swept  up  one  with  his  hand, 
and  dropped  it  into  the  bowl  of  his  pipe.  He  puffed  away 
calmly  for  a  few  moments,  while  his  thoughts  seemed  oc 
cupied  only  in  watching  the  smoke-wreaths  that  circled 
around  him. 

"What  sees  my  brother  in  the  smoke?"  asked  the  girl, 
after  watching  her  taciturn  wooer  for  a  while. 

"  A  bird,"  replied  the  Indian  gravely. 

The  girl  smiled,  was  silent  for  a  moment,  and  then  look 
ing  down  rather  demurely,  and  pulling  to  pieces  the  twigs 
whereon  she  sat,  asked  : 

"  What  says  the  bird  to  my  brother  ?" 

"  It  says  that  Teondetha  is  a  tree  whose  leaves  will  only 
flourish  by  The  Spreading  Dew." 

The  girl  laughed  outright,  (girls  will  laugh !)  but  the 
solemn  composure  of  her  companion  seemed  nowise  dis 
turbed  by  her  merriment.  The  laugh,  however,  ceased 
at  once,  without  subsiding  into  a  titter. 

"  And  what  does  my  brother  see  now  ?"  she  resumed, 
so  soon  as  she  had  recovered  her  sobriety. 

"  He  sees  a  beaver." 

"  And  what  says  the  beaver  1 

"  The  beaver  reminds  him  of  a  promise  which  The 
Dew  made  many  moons  ago,  off  by  the  yellow  waters 
that  flow  from  Garoga  Lake.  The  beaver  says  that  those 
of  his  tribe  who  have  no  lodcfe  become  worthless  casta- 


318  GREYSLAER; 


ways.  '  Teondetha,'  says  the  beaver,  '  let  not  The  Dew 
go  out  of  your  sight  again  till  you  have  built  one  for  both 
of  you.'" 

"  The  beaver  is  never  foolish,"  murmured  the  girl. 

A  heavy  puff  of  smoke  from  the  fire  at  that  moment 
wrapped  the  lovers  from  Greyslaer's  sight,  and  he  could 
not  see  whether  the  Indian  pair  sealed  this  important  pas 
sage  of  their  courtship  with  the  impress  that  fairer  wooers 
would  perhaps  have  used  ;  but,  as  the  smoke  cleared 
away,  he  thought  that  he  distinguished  The  Dew  with 
drawing  her  little  hand  from  that  of  Teondetha,  who  had 
slightly  changed  his  position. 

"  Carry  on,  carry  on,"  cried  De  Roos,  at  this  moment,  in 
viting  all  parties  to  supper  in  his  favorite  phrase,  which, 
like  the  "  push  along,  keep  moving,"  of  English  farce,  or 
the  "go  ahead"  of  modern  American  slang,  served  him 
alike  upon  all  occasions,  and  was  equally  in  requisition 
whether  at  feast  or  fray. 

Max,  who  had  eaten  nothing,  as  yet,  save  a  biscuit  which 
he  got  from  the  knapsack  of  a  slain  soldier,  upon  which  he 
had  been  seated  near  the  fire,  was  sufficiently  sharp-set  to 
fall  to  with  a  keen  relish  of  the  fare  now  placed  before  him. 

"  There's  the  cup  by  your  side,  capting,  if  it's  that  ye're 
looking  for.  Lean  over,  now,  with  your  cracker  here,  till 
I  put  this  slice  of  venison  upon  it.  It's  done  to  a  crisis,  I  tell 
ye ;  brown  on  the  outside,  and  juicy  red  within.  The 
crittur  himself  would  be  tempted  to  taste  one  of  his  own 
cutlets,  if  he  were  of  a  flesh-faring  natur.  There,  now,  add 
the  salt  and  pepper  fixings,  and  the  king  himself  hasn't  a 
slicker  supper.  Never  mind  the  squaw,  never  mind  the 
squaw,  capting  ;  Scalpy  yonder  will  look  after  her."  And 
running  on  thus  while  he  acted  as  cook,  butler,  and  waiter 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE    MOHAWK  319 

for  Greyslaer,  old  Bait,  ever  on  the  alert  to  serve  him, 
eyed  his  pupil  at  intervals  with  an  affectionate  interest,  as 
if  it  cheered  his  very  heart  to  see  the  half-famished  wan 
derer  relishing  this  rude  entertainment. 

"Ah,  capting,"  he  resumed,  "but  Miss  Alida  will  be 
glad  to  see  you.  We've  had  some  rare  doings  in  the  val 
ley  since  you  were  missed  from  among  us.  Sir  John,  as 
you  mayhap  know,  broke  his  parole  and  cleared  out  for 
Canada,  after  being  stolen  off  by  old  Joseph,  who  cut  his 
way  at  midnight  through  the  streets  of  Johnstown  in  tak 
ing  him  from  the  Hall.  Folks  talk  hard  of  the  baronet  for 
leaving  as  he  did  ;  but  Bait  could  have  told  them  some 
thing  which  would  prove  he  was  not  so  much  to  blame. 
He  thought  he  wasn't  safe,  he  did,  after  the  killing  of  Mr. 
Fenton  during  the  armistice  between  the  Whigs  and  To 
ries.  But  Mr.  Fenton,  you  know,  sought  h's  own  death  ; 
and,  sorry  as  I  was  for  it,  how  could  I  help  smashing  him 
as  I  did  ?  You  don't  think  I  could,  capting." 

"  It  was  a  bad  business,  Bait ;  but,  according  to  the  ac 
count  which  Captain  de  Roos  gave  me  to-night,  you  were 
certainly  not  to  blame." 

"  I  mistrust  I  wasn't — I  raaly  hope  not ;  but  Mr.  Fen 
ton  was  a  fine  man,  a  likely  man,  capting,  and  it  was  some 
comfort  to  me  to  give  him  Christian  burial.  I  sent  home 
his  watch,  and  what  little  money  he  had  about  him,  to  his 
family ;  and  the  two  or  three  papers  I  found  in  his  pocket 
I  kept  till  you  should  come  back  to  tell  me  what  to  do 
about  them.  What  else  could  I?  I  never  had  book- 
larnin  enough  to  read  written  hand,  and  I  didn't  know  but 
what  the  papers  might  hold  political  matters  of  some  valw 
to  our  friends ;  yet  I  was  afeared  to  give  them  to  stran 
gers  to  read,  lest  there  might  be  private  things  in  them 


320  GREYSLAER; 


about  Mr.  Fenton's  folks  that  the  family  would  not  like  to 
have  go  abroad." 

"  Where  are  the  papers  now  ?"  asked  Greyslaer. 

"  Miss  Alida  sealed  them  up  for  me,  and  put  them  away 
in  the  old  brass  beaufet  at  the  Hawksnest ;  but  she  looked, 
oh  !  so  sad  when  I  told  her  that  they  must  stay  there  till 
you  come  hum,  that  I  was  sorry  I  had  not  still  continued 
to  carry  them  about  in  my  shooting-pouch  with  me.  But 
how  did  I  know  but  that  I  should  leave  my  pouch  and 
scalp  both  among  these  wild  hills?" 

"  You  did  most  rightly,  Bait,"  said  Greyslaer,  not  un 
touched  by  these  proofs  of  the  just  sense  of  propriety 
which  seemed  to  govern  the  simple  woodsman.  "  But  see, 
that  tired  girl  has  already  dropped  her  head  upon  her  arm, 
as  if  sleep  had  overtaken  her.  Let  us  withdraw  from  the 
neighborhood  of  the  shanty  to  the  other  fire,  and  see  what 
disposition  of  us  Captain  de  Roos  proposes  for  the  night." 

"  Yes,  and  there's  the  Oneida  stretched  like  a  hound 
upon  the  edge  of  the  ashes,  so  that  no  one  can  enter  the 
shanty  without  stepping  over  him.  It  is  but  judgmatical 
for  us  to  look  for  a  snoozing-place  elsewhere." 

De  Roos,  however,  when  they  joined  his  party  a  few 
yards  off.  seemed  to  have  no  idea  of  any  one's  seeking 
their  rest  so  soon.  He  had  just  relieved  the  sentinels  who 
had  been  posted  here  and  there  in  the  woods  around,  and 
the  rest  of  his  half-disciplined  followers  were  ready  enough 
to  unite  with  Bait's  hunters  in  the  chorus,  as  the  mad  cap 
tain  again  broke  out  in  the  song  with  which  he  had  first 
waked  the  echoes  of  the  forest  round  about,  and  which  he 
had  originally  learned  from  old  Bait  himself.  Greyslaer, 
however,  borrowing  a  blanket  from  one  of  the  soldiers, 
was  permitted  to  forego  a  part  in  this  midnight  saturnalia 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  321 


of  the  forest ;  for  his  plea  of  excessive  weariness  was  ad 
mitted  when  De  Roos  remembered  that  they  must  reach 
Fort  George  early  on  the  morrow,  if  they  would  have  a 
place  in  the  column  when  his  regiment  took  up  their  line 
of  march.  The  wayworn  heir  of  the  Hawksnest  was 
soon  plunged  in  deep  slumber ;  but  the  words  of  the  fol 
lowing  song  ever  and  anon  mingled  in  his  dreams,  as  the 
woodland  revellers  bore  down  merrily  in  the  chorus. 

SONG    OF    HALT    THE    HUNTER. 

1. 

There  was  an  old  hunter  camped  down  by  the  kill, 

Who  fished  in  this  water  and  shot  on  that  hill ; 

The  forest  for  him  had  no  danger  nor  gloom, 

For  all  that  he  wanted  was  plenty  of  room. 

Says  he,  "The  world's  wide,  there  is  room  for  us  all; 

Room  enough  in  the  greenwood,  if  not  in  the  hall. 
Room,  boys,  room,  by  the  light  of  the  moon, 
For  why  shouldn't  every  man  enjoy  his  own  room  ?" 


He  wove  his  own  mats,  and  his  shanty  was  spread 
With  the  skins  he  had  dressed  and  stretched  out  overhead ; 
Fresh  branches  of  hemlock  made  fragrant  the  floor, 
For  his  bed  as  he  sung  when  the  daylight  was  o'er, 
"  The  world's  wide  enough,  there  is  room  for  us  all ; 
Room  enough  in  the  greenwood,  if  not  in  the  hall. 
Room,  boys,  room ,  by  the  light  of  the  moon, 
For  why  shouldn't  every  man  enjoy  his  own  room  f" 

8. 

That  spring,  now  half  choked  by  the  dust  of  the  road, 
Through  a  grove  of  tall  maples  once  limpidly  flowed ; 
By  the  rock  whence  it  bubbles  his  kettle  was  hung, 
Whicli  their  sap  often  filled,  while  the  hunter  he  sung, 
15 


322  GREYSLAER; 


"  The  world's  wide  enough,  there  is  room  for  us  all ; 

Room  enough  in  the  greenwood,  if  not  in  the  hall. 
Room,  boys,  room,  by  the  light  of  the  moon, 
For  why  shouldn't  every  man  enjoy  his  own  room  ?" 

4, 

And  still  sung  the  hunter — when  one  gloomy  day 
He  saw  in  the  forest  what  saddened  his  lay  ; 
'Twas  the  rut  which  a  heavy -wheeled  wagon  had  made, 
Where  the  greensward  grew  thick  in  the  broad  forest  glade 
"  The  world's  wide  enough,  there  is  room  for  us  all ; 
Room  enough  in  the  greenwood,  if  not  in  the  hall. 
Room,  boys,  room,  by  the  light  of  the  moon, 
For  why  shouldn't  every  man  enjoy  his  own  room  ?'' 


He  whistled  his  dog,  and  says  he,  "  We  can't  stay ; 
I  must  shoulder  my  rifle,  up  traps,  and  away." 
Next  day,  through  those  maples  the  settler's  axe  rung, 
While  slowly  the  hunter  trudged  off  as  he  sung, 
"  The  world's  wide  enough,  there  is  room  for  us  all ; 
Room  enough  in  the  greenwood,  if  not  in  the  hall. 
Room,  boys,  room,  by  the  light  of  the  moon, 
For  why  ?houldn't  every  man  enjoy  his  own  room  ?'' 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  333 


CHAPTER    VI. 


ESTRANGEMENT. 


"  Where  love,  that  cannot  perish,  grows 
For  one,  alas  !  that  little  knows 
How  love  may  sometimes  last ; 
Like  sunshine  wasting  in  the  skies, 

When  clouds  are  overcast."  DAWES. 

'  Is  the  prayer  rejected — the  suit  disdained  ? 

The  pleadings  of  love — are  they  vain  ? 
Has  the  student  no  lore,  has  his  voice  no  skill, 

To  bring  back  lost  smiles  again  ?"  Mas.  EMBURY. 


GLAD  rumors  of  the  success  which  had  finally  crowned 
the  hunter  Bait  in  his  wild-wood  quest  preceded  the  arri 
val  of  the  popular  young  Max  among  his  old  friends  and 
neighbors.  It  were  difficult  to  define  the  emotions  of 
Alida  when  the  news  of  his  deliverance'  from  captivity 
and  death  first  reached  her  ears.  For,  though  joy  and 
delight  for  Greyslaer's  escape  first  swallowed  up  all  other 
feelings,  yet  painful  reflections  succeeded,  and  doubts  and 
fears  crept  into  her  mind,  to  alloy  this  generous  burst  of 
heartfelt  sensibility. 

She  felt,  she  owned  to  herself,  that,  were  it  not  for 
the  canker  of  an  old  sorrow,  she  could  have  loved 
her  fresh-hearted  worshipper.  But  this  thought  had 


324  GRBYSLAER; 


only  been  admitted  into  her  heart  when  she  believed 
the  barrier  of  the  grave  was  closed  between  them. 
How  was  it  now  with  her  when  Greyslaer  lived  1  lived, 
while  a  barrier  more  hideous  even  than  that  of  the 
grave  must  keep  them  apart  for  ever  !  But  why  dwell 
now  upon  her  past  relations  with  Greyslaer  ?  Why  im- 
bitter  her  hours  by  musing  upon  their  possible  future 
position  toward  each  other  ? 

Long  months  had  intervened  since  the  passionate  decla 
ration  of  her  noble-spirited  lover.  There  was  time  enough 
even  for  him  to  have  forgotten  his  youthful  fancy,  or  ex 
changed  it  for  another,  if  some  fair  face  had  presented 
itself  to  him  when  away  from  her.  Besides,  had  she  not 
revealed  that  to  him  which  must  crush  all  hope  upon  the 
instant  ?  Surely  he  could  not  have  gone  on  feeding  with 
vain  dreams  of  what  might  be  his  misplaced  and  most  un 
fortunate  attachment — he  had  not  consumed  a  captive's 
long  and  lonely  hours  in  such  fruitless  and  imbittered 
musings  upon  his  baffled  affections?  His  sorrows  must 
have  been  those  only  of  a  young  and  ardent  mind,  that 
grieves  to  find  itself  cut  off,  in  the  season  of  its  vigor, 
from  the  paths  of  ambition  which  men  so  love  to  tread  ; 
his  dreams,  only  those  which  will  crowd  into  a  mind  fer 
tile  as  his  when  planning  his  escape  from  present  evil — a 
prisoner's  dream  of  home  and  friends,  of  free  will  and 
unrestricted  motion,  and  the  bright  world  which,  fresh  as 
ever,  was  to  be  enjoyed  again. 

Alida  hoped  that  it  might  be  so  ;  yet  she  grew  sad  even 
in  so  hoping !  A  sensible  and  modest  mind  is  not  merely 
flattered,  but  substantially  raised  in  its  own  estimation  by 
the  sincere  and  unaffected  attachment  of  another  as  well 
constituted  as  itself,  even  when  it  cannot  return  the  pas- 


A     ROMANCE    OF     TI^E    MOHAWK.  325 

sion.  And  though  it  can  hardly  with  precision  be  said 
either  to  grieve  or  humble  us  when  that  regard  passes 
away,  yet  there  is  something  of  sorrow,  something  of 
humiliation,  when  we  become  assured  of  its  decay. 

In  the  mean  time  the  presumed  heiress  of  the  Hawks- 
nest  had  not  wanted  for  admirers,  though  the  natural  im- 
periousness  of  her  disposition  prepared  a  haughty  rebuff 
for  more  than  one  who  made  haste  to  address  the  beauti- 
ful  orphan,  even  in  her  first  secluded  months  of  mourning. 
The  advances  of  some  of  these  suitors  were  well  known 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  their  supposed  rejection,  when 
they  successively  withdrew  from  the  field,  became  very 
naturally  the  talk  of  the  country  people,  who,  when 
Greyslaer's  return  from  captivity  was  bruited  abroad, 
unanimously  agreed  that  Fate  had  intended  that  he  should 
be  the  happy  man.  . "  Surely,"  they  argued,  "  young  Max 
would  never  take  possession  of  the  estate  which  Miss 
Alida  had  so  long  enjoyed  as  his  nearest  kinswoman,  and 
the  co-heir  of  mad  Derrick,  without  offering  first  to  make 
her  his  wife  ?  And  where  was  the  girl  in  the  valley  that 
would  refuse  him?  Proud  and  uppish  as  she  was,  old  De 
Roos,  though  a  respectable  man  enough,  and  the  old  friend 
of  Sir  William,  was  no  such  great  shakes,  after  all,  that 
his  daughter  might  turn  up  her  nose  upon  the  only  son  of 
Colonel  Greyslaer  that  was." 

As  for  Max  himself,  it  was  agreed,  without  any  dissent, 
that  he  would  seek  a  wife  forthwith.  He  was  the  last  of 
his  name ;  and,  though  sternly  republican  in  his  political 
principles,  democracy  entered  not  into  his  ideas  of  the 
social  relations,  and  he  was  believed  to  inherit  from  his 
stately  old  father  sufficient  pride  of  family  not  to  wish 
the  name  of  Greyslaer  to  expire  with  himself. 


326  GREYSLAER; 


Max,  in  the  meanwhile,  wholly  unconscious  that  he 
and  his  affairs  were  furnishing  the  only  subject  of  gossip 
to  the  good  wives  of  the  neighborhood,  now  that  the  storm 
of  war  had  rolled  away  from  the  valley  for  a  season,  and 
left  leisure  for  such  harmless  themes,  disappointed  every 
one  by  the  quietude  of  his  proceedings.  A  lawyer  from 
the  county  town,  calling  upon  Miss  de  Roos,  informed 
her  that  Captain  Greyslaer,  being  about  to  join  his  regi 
ment,  which  belonged  to  a  brigade  of  volunteers  that  had 
recently  been  draughted  into  the  service  of  Congress,  he 
had  no  idea  of  taking  possession  of  the  Hawksnest,  and 
that  Miss  de  Roos  would  add  to  the  obligations  which 
Captain  Greyslaer  already  felt  himself  under  to  her  late 
lamented  father,  if  she  would  continue  to  preside  over  an 
establishment  which  must  otherwise  be  broken  up,  and 
perhaps  fall  to  ruins  ;  for  the  aged  housekeeper  was  now 
too  infirm  for  the  charge,  and  Captain  Greyslaer  was  at  a 
loss  what  disposition  to  make  of  his  other  servants  in 
times  so  disturbed.  "  The  captain,"  said  the  lawyer,  look 
ing  round  upon  the  ancient  furniture,  "seems  to  have  his 
heart  bent  upon  keeping  these  old  sticks  together,  and 
there  is  no  one  but  you,  madam,  to  whom  he  can  look,  as 
one  feeling  the  same  sort  of  interest  in  the  place  as  that 
which  he  cherishes." 

The  latter  part  of  his  agent's  statement  was  enforced 
by  a  note  from  Greyslaer,  containing  an  eloquent  appeal 
to  her  on  the  score  of  their  mutual  childish  associations, 
and  on  the  impracticability  of  his  making  any  humane  dis 
position  of  his  black  servants  ;  for  manumitting  them — a 
resource  wrhich  had  suggested  itself — would  in  the  ex 
isting  state  of  the  country,  be,  in  fact,  the  cruellest  thing 
he  could  do,  there  being  now  no  employment  for  laborers 
of  that  class. 


A     ROMANCE     OF     THE     MOHAWK.  337 

Alida,  who  had  not  been  left  unprovided  for  by  her 
father,  and  was,'  therefore,  not  thus  rendered  dependent 
upon  the  bounty  of  a  distant  kinsman,  who  stood  toward 
her  in  the  delicate  relation  of  a  discarded  lover,  scarcely 
hesitated  in  her  determination.  "  She  would  remain  be 
side  the  graves  of  her  father  and  sister,  and  consider 
herself  as  mistress  of  the  Hawksnest  until  Captain  Grey- 
slaer  was  prepared  to  enter  into  his  possessions  ;  but  it 
must  be  as  a  tenant,  upon  the  same  terms  that  her  father 
had  held  the  property." 

A  month  or  more  had  elapsed  after  the  adjustment  of 
this  delicate  matter,  and  Greyslaer,  writing  weekly  to 
her  from  Albany  arid  New  York,  whither  his  professional 
duty  had  led  him,  managed  always  in  his  letters  to  pre 
serve  a  tone  of  easy  friendliness,  such  as  had  prevailed 
between  them  in  the  younger  days  of  their  intercourse. 
This  composure  upon  paper,  however,  vanished  entirely 
when  at  last  they  met.  The  frank  cordiality  which  Max 
assumed,  was  rather  overdoing  nature,  as  Alida  thought 
when  she  observed  his  rapid  utterance  and  restless  mo 
tions  ;  and  G/eyslaer  was  conscious  that  Alida  trembled 
with  agitation  when  he  smilingly  proffered  the  ordinary 
salute  which  fashion  so  inconsistently  permitted  among 
the  polite,  considering  the  otherwise  ceremonious  man 
ners  of  that  formal  day.  They  each  seemed  laboring 
under  a  continual  exertion  to  maintain  the  tone  in  which 
Max  had  so  happily  commenced  their  correspondence, 
and  which  had  hitherto  been  successfully  kept  up  between 
them.  But  the  restraint  which  either  felt  at  heart  must 
soon  have  convinced  them  that  they  mutually  stood  in  a 
false  position  toward  each  other. 

A   famous  modern  sayer  of  apothegms  tells  us  that 


'328  GREYSLAER; 


friendship  may  sometimes  warm  into  love,  but  love  can 
subside  into  friendship  never  ;  and  of  the  ancients  one 
goes  still  further,  by  making  hatred  the  only  change  of 
which  love  is  capable.  As  indifference  will  often  super 
vene  to  the  most  violent  passion,  the  creed  of  the  latter  is 
manifestly  absurd  ;  but  there  is  something  of  truth  in  the 
proverb  of  the  former  ;  for  though  the  sentiment  of  friend 
ship,  a  feeling  of  the  warmest  and  kindest  regard,  may 
indeed  exist  where  love  has  once  been,  yet  the  calm  rela 
tion  of  friends,  with  all  its  easy  and  pleasurable  frankness 
of  intercourse,  can  hardly  grow  up  between  two  parties 
where  love  has  been  the  source  of  interest  to  either,  and 
that  love  has  been  once  avowed.  There  must  be  some 
lurking  mortification,  if  not  some  secret  trace  of  sorrow, 
on  one  side  or  the  other ;  a  jealousy  of  mutual  re 
spect,  a  quickness  to  take  offence,  and,  above  all,  the 
mournful  memory  of  former  passages,  endeared  only  in 
recollection,  perhaps,  by  their  being  associated  with  the 
halcyon  season  of  youth  and  hope,  but  still  endeared  to  it; 
there  must  be  this  memory  to  come  over  the  spirit  amid 
its  gayest  sallies,  and  make  the  society  of  the  one  who  has 
elicited  them,  saddening,  if  not  oppressive,  to  the  mind  for 
the  moment. 

What  wonder,  then,  if  Greyslaer's  visits  to  the  Hawks- 
nest  were  gradually  intermitted  ?  A  character  so  earnest 
as  his  cannot  always  find  material  for  conversation  amid 
themes  of  passing  interest,  while  one  that  fills  his  whole 
soul  is  utterly  forbidden  ;  for  conversation  with  her, 
moreover,  whose  presence  unlocked  the  secret  chambers 
of  his  mind,  and  peopled  it  with  thoughts  that  might  not 
walk  abroad. 

He  had  promised  Alida  never  officiously  to  thrust  him- 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  339 

self  further  into  her  confidence,  and  he  remembered  his 
promise  ;  but  the  forced  durance  she  had  suffered  at  the 
hands  of  Bradshawe  was  known  to  him,  and  he  burned 
to  resolve  his  suspicions  concerning  that  dark  and  des 
perate  man.  He  had  hoped,  in  his  earlier  visits,  that 
their  discourse  might  at  some  future  time  lead  to  Alida's 
reposing  that  full  confidence  in  him  which  he  persuaded 
himself  was  due  to  the  truthfulness  and  steadfastness  of 
his  attachment,  under  the  changed  form  in  which  he  was 
determined  she  should  view  it.  But  the  moment  did  not 
come  ;  and  upon  each  succeeding  visit  Greyslaer  seemed 
further  from  the  hope  of  such  a  revelation  than  ever. 
Alida,  in  fact,  did  not  dream  of  making  it. 

Whether  it  was  that  she  did  not  consider  Greyslaer, 
her  young  friend,  the  most  proper  party  to  interest  him 
self  about  her  affairs  ;  whether  she  paled  at  the  peril  to 
which  Greyslaer  her  lover  would  be  exposed  by  the  steps 
he  might  adopt  upon  receiving  the  disclosure  ;  whether 
she  shrank,  with  true  female  delicacy,  from  the  further 
agitation  of  a  subject  so  painful ;  or  whether  she  had 
proudly  determined  to  be  herself  the  arbiter  of  her  own 
destiny,  it  is  impossible  to  say.  But  while  there  are 
some  circumstances  which  diminish  the  force  of  the  last 
supposition — such  as  the  present  banishment  of  Brad 
shawe  from  this  region,  and  the  change  which  seemed 
to  have  come  over  the  character  of  Alida  after  she  came 
to  realize  the  full  extent  of  her  family  bereavements — it 
is  probable  that  all  these  considerations  swayed  her  by 
turns,  and  suggested  the  reserve  of  conduct  which  was 
the  result. 

And  now  Captain  Greyslaer  has  become  noted  alike 
among  his  equals  in  rank  and  his  superior  officers  for  his 
15* 


330  GREYSLAER; 


rigid  and  exclusive  attention  to  his  military  duties.  He 
seldom  goes  beyond  the  limits  of  the  post  where  he  is 
stationed.  His  visits  to  the  Hawksnest,  which  is  only  a 
few  miles  off,  seem  gradually  to  have  ceased  altogether  ; 
and  a  book  or  newspaper  from  New  York,  with  some 
pencilled  remarks  upon  the  news  it  contains  from  the 
seat  of  war,  is,  when  transmitted  through  his  orderly,  the 
only  intercourse  he  holds  with  its  inmates. 

Alida — though  other  officers  of  the  garrison  sought  by 
assiduous  attention  to  supply  the  place  of  Max — Alida,  it 
must  be  confessed,  began  soon  to  miss  his  accustomed 
visits.  The  superior  mental  accomplishments  of  Grey- 
slaer  the  student,  would  with  her  have  given  him  but 
slight  advantage  over  his  military  comrades  ;  but  the 
character  of  Greyslaer  the  soldier,  of  Greyslaer  the 
young  partisan,  whose  wild  adventures  and  perilous 
escapes  among  the  Indians  were  the  theme  of  every 
tongue,  appealed  more  forcibly  to  the  romantic  admira 
tion  of  Alida ;  and  apart  from  all  tender  associations  of 
the  past,  regarding  him  only  in  the  light  of  an  acquaint 
ance  of  the  day,  she  would  have  felt  an  interest  in  the 
society  of  Max  that  no  other  of  his  sex  whom  she  had 
hitherto  known  could  inspire. 

There  might  possibly,  too,  be  something  in  the  altered 
aspect  of  Greyslaer  which  more  or  less  affected  the  light 
in  which  a  woman's  eye  would  regard  him,  now  that  his 
cheek  had  lost  its  freshness  from  hardship  and  exposure  ; 
and  that  almost  boyish  air  which  characterized  his  ap 
pearance  even  in  early  manhood,  had  been  changed  by 
more  recent  habits  of  action,  of  command,  and  of  self-re 
liance. 

The  mother  who,  welcoming  her  long-absent  son,  sighs 


A     ROMANCE     OF     THE     MOHAWK.  331 

as  she  looks  vainly  in  his  features  for  those  gentler  traits 
which  graced  the  handsome  stripling  with  whom  she 
parted,  smiles  the  next  moment  with  inward  pride  at  the 
sentiment  of  newly-awakened  respect  with  which  she  is 
mysteriously  inspired  toward  her  own  offspring;  she 
startles  at  the  altered  modulations  of  his  voice  as  heard  at 
a  distance  ;  she  wonders  at  the  changed  cadence  of  his 
footfalls,  as  his  approaching  step,  which  was  ever  music  to 
her  ear,  grows  nearer ;  she  marks  his  graver  and  more 
even  mien  ;  she  gazes  upon  the  brow  where  manhood  has 
already  stamped  its  lordly  impress  ;  yet,  even  while  lean 
ing  for  counsel  upon  him  who  so  lately  looked  to  her  for 
care,  she  can  scarcely  realize  the  swift  and  silent  change 
that  is  now  so  fully  wrought. 

So  had  it  been  with  Alida.  Greyslaer  was  to  her  a  stripling 
student  no  more  ;  and  if  her  own  feelings  had  not  taught  her 
thus,  the  conviction  must  have  been  forced  upon  her  by 
the  light  in  which,  as  she  saw.  he  was  regarded  by  those 
far  older  than  herself.  His  opinions  upon  all  subjects 
seemed  to  be  quoted  by  those  who  were  his  immediate 
associates  ;  and  she  heard  continually  of  grave  cases  in 
which  Greyslaer's  judgment  was  appealed  to  by  members 
of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  others  charged  with  the 
various  clashing  powers  of  the  provisionary  government 
of  the  period.  The  friendship  of  such  a  man  she  felt  was 
to  be  valued,  and  she  even  acknowledged  to  herself  that, 
had  not  circumstances  placed  an  insurmountable  barrier 
between  them,  Greyslaer — judging  him  only  by  the  char 
acter  he  had  formed  for  himself  in  the  world — Max  Grey 
slaer  was  the  man  of  all  others  to  whom  her  proud  and 
aspiring  heart  would  have  been  rendered  up. 

But,  alas  !  what  booted  such  knowledge  now  ?     Of  what 


332  GREYSLAER; 


avail  was  it  that  reason  reluctantly  at  last  sanctioned  the 
preference  which  a  secret  tenderness  suggested,  when 
reason  was  wholly  at  war  with  the  indulgence  of  these 
partial  feelings?  Reason,  though  she  sustained  with  the 
one  hand  the  judgment  which  guided  that  partiality, 
pointed  sternly  with  the  other  to  an  abyss  of  hopeless 
ness.  Alida  might  love  Greyslaer,  but  she  never  could 
be  his. 

With  minds  of  a  gentler  mould,  or  even  with  one  lofty 
as  hers,  if  attempered  by  the  sweet  influences  of  Religion, 
a  quiet  and  uncomplaining  resignation  would  have  been 
the  alternative  of  one  thus  \veighed  down  by  the  hand  of 
fate.  But  Alida,  though  her  fervid  soul  was  in  a  high  de 
gree  characterized  by  that  sentiment  of  natural  piety 
which,  existing  in  almost  every  highly-gifted  mind,  is  so 
often  mistaken  for  the  deeper  and  more  permanent  princi 
ple  which  alone  deserves  the  name  of  true  religion — Alida 
had  never  yet  known  that  sober,  and  holy-conserving  in 
fluence  by  whose  aid  alone,  the  preacher  tells  us,  we  may 
possess  our  minds  in  peace.  She  rebelled  against  the  lot 
to  which  she  seemed  doomed  as  a  disappointed,  if  not 
broken-hearted  woman.  She  would  struggle  against  the 
blind  pressure  of  circumstance,  and  war  till  the  last  with 
the  fate  which  only  served  to  exasperate  while  it  over 
shadowed  her  spirit. 

It  is  strange  how,  while  most  minds  grow  haughty,  ex 
acting,  and  imperious  from  success,  misfortune,  so  far  from 
bringing  humility  with  it,  produces  precisely  the  same 
effect  in  others  ;  they  seem  to  harden  in  the  struggle  with 
sorrow,  and  grow  insolent  as  they  gain  knowledge  of  their 
own  powers  of  endurance. 

•'I'll  go  no  more,"  said  Greyslaer  one  evening,  as  throw- 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  333 

ing  himself  dejectedly  into  the  saddle,  he  passed  through 
the  gate  which  opened  upon  the  grounds  of  the  Hawks- 
nest,  and  turned  his  horse's  head  toward  the  garrison;  "I'll 
go  no  more.  Had  her  reception  been  merely  cold  and 
formal  after  the  long  interval  I  have  ceased  visiting  her, 
I  should  not  have  complained  of  such  notice  of  my  neglect ; 
for  she,  perhaps,  never  suspects  the  cause  that  keeps  rne 
away.  But  those  two  fingers  so  carelessly  accorded  to 
my  grasp,  with  that  light  laugh  as  she  turned  round  in 
speaking  to  that  group  of  idlers,  even  in  the  moment  that 
I  was  expressing  my  pleasure  at  seeing  her — pshaw !  there 
are  no  sympathies  between  that  woman  and  myself;  there 
never  was,  there  never  can  be  any  ;"  and  he  struck  the 
rowels  into  his  horse  almost  fiercely,  as,  thus  bitterly  mus 
ing,  one  angry  thought  after  another  chased  through  his 
mind. 

"  And  what  if  she  be  ?"  he  exclaimed,  reining  up  sud 
denly  again  to  a  slower  pace.  "  What  if  she  be  wayward, 
fitful,  and  exacting  to  me  alone  of  all  other  men  ?  For 
getful  of  the  devoted  and  all-absorbing  love  I  have  borne 
her;  forgetful  of  the  feelings  which,  save  on  that  terrible 
night  only,  I  have  always  kept  trained  in  obedience  to  what 
I  deemed  her  happiness  ?  She  never  attempted  to  inspire 
this  misplaced  and  mistaken  interest;  she  never  lured  me 
on  to  the  avowal ;  she  never  trifled  with  the  emotions  that 
prompted  it.  What  right  have  I  to  arraign  her  conduct, 
to  sit  in  judgment  upon  her  conduct  toward  me  ?  Her 
character  is  the  same  that  I  have  ever  known  it.  Her 
conduct  toward  me?  Am  I,  then,  such  an  egotist  that  that 
is  to  change  my  estimation  of  her?  She  does  not  love 
me,  she  cannot  love  me ;  and  if  she  did,  is  there  not  this 
hideous  bar  between  us  !  What  care  I,  then,  for  the  show 


334  GREYSLAER; 

of  interest,  when  the  reality  can  never  be  indulged  ?  No ! 
my  part  is  taken — irretrievably  taken,  and  I  would  not 
recall  my  choice.  For  me  there  is  no  fragment  of  happi 
ness  that  I  can  save  from  the  wreck  of  the  past,  but  I 
will  still  drift  with  her  wheresoever  the  sea  of  events  may 
hurl  us." 

It  is  well  for  us  that  it  is  only  in  very  early  life  that  we 
are  thus  prodigal  of  our  chances  of  happiness,  and  willing 
to  concentrate  them  all  upon  a  single  issue.  Alas !  how 
soon  do  we  learn,  in  maturer  years,  to  shift  our  interest 
from  scheme  to  scheme  ;  to  see  wave  after  wave,  upon 
which  the  bark  of  our  hopes  has  been  upborne,  sink  from 
beneath  it,  until  the  very  one  upon  which  it  was  about  to 
float  at  last  triumphantly,  strands  us  upon  the  returnless 
shores  of  the  grave ! 

But,  though  many  a  worldling  has  commenced  his  ex 
perience  of  life  with  views  hardly  less  romantic  than 
those  of  Max  Greyslaer,  his  was  not  the  mere  wayward 
devotedness  of  youth  to  its  first  sorrow.  The  very  con 
stitution  of  his  mind  was  of  a  loyal,  venerating  kind  ;  (for, 
deeply  imbued  as  he  was,  by  the  classic  culture  of  his 
mind,  with  that  ancient,  intellectual  spirit  of  republicanism 
which  had  at  once  determined  his  political  position  in  the 
present  civil  struggle,  Greyslaer,  under  another  system  of 
education,  might  possibly  have  turned  out  almost  a  bigoted 
royalist ;)  and  the  sentiment  which  still  attached  him  to 
Alida  was  nearly  akin  to  that  which,  in  another  age  and 
under  other  circumstances,  would  have  inspired  his  self- 
devotion  to  some  dethroned  and  expatriated  prince,  like 
him  for  whom  one  of  his  maternal  ancestors  had  suffered 
upon  the  scaffold.  Had  he  never  declared  his  passion  for 
Alida,  he  might  have  succeeded  in  crushing  it;  he  would 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE     MOHAWK.  335 

certainly  have  attempted  to  reason  it  away  the  moment 
that  he  discovered  that  he  must  love  in  vain  ;  but,  the 
avowal  once  made,  he  never  dreamed  of  withdrawing 
the  adhesion  he  had  thus  given  in,  much  less  of  transfer 
ring  his  affections  to  another.  He  had  made  an  error  of 
choice;  a  most  unhappy,  a  most  cruel  one ;  but  still  he 
would  abide  by  that  choice,  whatever  consequences  might 
accrue.  The  part  which  Max  Greyslaer  had  thus  chosen 
would,  in  a  rational  point  of  view,  become  only  an  ill-regu 
lated,  almost,  we  might  say,  a  half-besotted  mind.  Yet 
the  weakness  of  choosing  such  a  part  is  precisely  that 
which  has  dwarfed  the  growth  and  distorted  the  other 
wise  noble  proportions  of  minds  naturally  the  most  mascu 
line  and  commanding.  There  is  something  of  the  high 
Christian  daring  of  wild  romance,  something  of  the  solemn 
obstinacy  of  the  classic  heathen  fatalist,  in  the  proud  per 
versity  with  which  they  would  beard  a  Doom  and  grapple 
with  a  Destiny. 

But  the  feelings  and  reflections  of  Greyslaer,  upon 
which  we  have  dwelt,  perhaps,  somewhat  too  minutely, 
received  a  new  direction  at  this  moment,  as  he  heard  the 
clatter  of  a  horse's  hoofs  rapidly  approaching  in  an  oppo 
site  course  to  that  which  he  was  travelling.  The  speed 
of  the  coming  horseman  seemed  to  announce  that  he  was 
either  fleeing  from  pursuit,  or  riding  upon  some  errand  of 
the  utmost  urgency  ;  and,  ere  Greyslaer  could  make  out 
the  figure  of  the  strange  rider  amid  the  darkness,  his  con 
jectures  as  to  his  character  were  cut  short  by  an  occur 
rence  which  may  best  be  told  in  another  chapter. 


336  GREYSLAER; 


CHAPTER    VII. 


THE    DISCOVERY  . 


"  Colons.     What  kind,  indulgent  power 
Has  smiled  on  Calous,  that  so  much  bliss 
At  once  should  dissipate  his  darkest  gloom, 
And  make  a  noon  of  midnight ! 

"  At  hen!  a.     His  ways  are  dark  and  deeply  intricate — 
When  Heaven  was  kindest,  innocence  was  lost, 
And  Paradise  gave  birth  to  misery." 

Athenia  of  Damascus. 


THERE  was  a  blacksmith's  shop  at  the  forks  of  the  road, 
a  few  yards  in  advance  of  the  spot  where  Greyslaer,  the 
moment  he  became  aware  of  the  stranger's  approach,  had 
reined  up  to  challenge  him  in  passing.  For,  in  these 
times,  when  almost  every  passenger  upon  the  highway 
was  an  object  of  scrutiny,  a  horseman  who  journeyed  so 
hotly  by  night  naturally  awakened  suspicion  as  to  his 
character. 

Max,  remembering  the  neighborhood  of  the  black 
smith's  hovel,  thought  for  a  moment  that  it  might  be  only 
some  farmers  boy,  who,  directing  his  way  thither  to  have 
a  horse-shoe  replaced,  was  endeavoring  by  speed  to  dimin 
ish  the  lateness  of  the  hour  in  which  he  must  return  home 
ward  when  his  errand  was  finished.  But  the  toils  of  the 
blacksmith  seemed  already  ended  for  the  day,  as  the 


A    KOMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  337 

sound  of  his  anvil  had  ceased,  and  no  light  hovered  around 
his  shanty  to  tell  that  the  bellows  was  busy  within.  The 
horseman,  too,  did  not  check  his  speed  as  he  approached 
the  smithy,  but  came  thundering  on  as  before,  evidently 
about  to  pass  it.  As  it  chanced,  however,  the  owner  of 
the  premises  was  still  there  at  work  around  his  smoulder 
ing  fire  ;  and  in  the  very  moment  that  the  stranger  passed 
the  large  unglazed  window  of  the  hovel,  a  sudden  puff  of 
his  bellows  sent  the  sparks  up  from  the  chimney  of  the 
forge,  and  threw  a  ruddy  strip  of  light  across  the  road. 
The  horse  of  the  stranger,  startled  at  the  sudden  glare, 
shyed,  and  flung  his  rider  upon  the  spot. 

Greyslaer,  who  clearly  beheld  the  adventure  from 
where  he  stood,  spurred  forward,  threw  himself  from  the 
saddle,  and  assisted  the  blacksmith,  who  had  rushed  to 
his  door,  in  raising  the  fallen  man  from  the  ground.  The 
smith,  who  was  none  other  than  the  doughty  Wentz,  men 
tioned  in  the  earlier  chapters  of  our  narrative,  uttered  a 
significant  cry  of  surprise  the  moment  he  beheld  the  fea 
tures  of  the  dismounted  traveller;  and  Max,  upon  scruti 
nizing  them  more  narrowly  as  they  together  dragged 
their  helpless  load  to  the  light,  was  at  no  loss  to  recognize 
the  savage  apparition  of  the  Haunted  Rock  in  the  bruised, 
bedraggled,  and  crestfallen  being  before  him. 

"  You  may  look  for  the  master  where  you  find  the 
man,"  said  Hans,  shaking  his  head  wisely  as  he  dipped  a 
handful  of  dirty  water  from  the  trough  in  which  he  gene 
rally  cooled  his  irons,  and  threw  it  in  the  face  of  the 
stunned  and  senseless  man. 

"His  master?"  interrogated  Greyslaer,  a  dark  chain  of 
suspicious  and  vengeful  thoughts  forming  in  his  mind 
with  the  rapidity  of  lightning. 


338  GREYSLAER; 


"  Well,  his  leader  then — his  employer,  or  whatever 
name  you  would  give  him  who  has  always  used  this  chap 
in  his  doings  when  he  had  work  on  hand.  He,  I  say, 
Wat  Bradshawe,  must  be  astir  when  Red  Wolfert  rides 
abroad  after  this  fashion.  It  were  a  mercy,  now,  to  the 
whole  country,  captain,  to  knock  him  in  the  Head  with 
this  iron." 

"  What!  murder  a  man  that  lies  helpless  before  you? 
Surely,  Hans,  your  heart  is  not  harder  than  the  flinty 
road  which  has  just  spared  the  wretch's  life.  Lay  those 
pistols  out  of  his  reach,  however,  and  this  knife  loo ;  he 
must  not  handle  it  on  reviving,"  said  Max,  as  the  weapons 
caught  his  eye  while  loosing  Valtmeyer's  girdle  to  enable 
him  to  breathe  more  freely. 

"  Thousand  devils  !  where  am  I  ?"  muttered  the  bri 
gand,  opening  his  eyes,  and  quickly  closing  them  again, 
as  if  the  glare  from  the  forge  offended  his  sight. 

"In  safe  hands  enough,  Wolfert,"  answered  the  black 
smith,  as  Greyslaer  silently  motioned  him  to  reply. 

"  Aha  !  whose  voice  is  that  1"  cried  the  ruffian,  rubbing 
his  bloodshot  eyes,  but  not  yet  raising  his  head,  as  he 
rolled  them  from  side  to  side.  "  Hans  Blacksmith,  was  it 
you  that  spoke,  good  Hans  ?  Thousand  devils  !  where's 
my  mare  ?" 

"  Far  enough  by  this  time,  I  guess,  from  the  round  rate 
in  which  she  scoured  down  the  south  fork.  Are  you  hurt 
much?" 

"  Um .  Has  Greyslaer,  the  rebel  captain,  passed 

along  here  yet  to-night  ?" 

"  Why  do  you  ask?" 

"Because  we  mustn't  let  him  go  by,  that's  all." 

"We!     Why,  you're  drunk,  Wolfert.     Do  you  think  I 


A    KO MANGE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  339 

will  aid  you  in  stopping  passengers  on  the  People's  high 
way  ?" 

Valtmeyer  answered  only  by  raising  himself  upon  the 
bench  whereon  he  had  been  laid ;  but  he  moved  so  stiffly 
and  slowly  that  Greyslaer  had  time  to  withdraw  a  few 
steps  within  the  deep  shadows  of  the  place. 

"  Drunk,  you  say,  um "  and  the  desperado  fumbled 

around  his  waist  for  the  arms  he  generally  wore  there. 
"  Dunder  und  blixem  !  who  in  the  name  of  hell  has  re 
moved  my  arms  ?" 

"  Your  belt  must  have  burst  a  buckle  when  you  were 
thrown,"  replied  Hans,  calmly. 

Valtmeyer  fixed  a  penetrating  gaze  upon  his  counte 
nance  ;  but  the  immobility  of  the  blacksmith's  features 
taught  him  nothing.  He  raised  himself  to  his  feet  with  a 
slight  groan,  paused,  and  passed  his  hands  down  his  sides, 
as  if  to  feel  whether  or  not  his  ribs  were  broken  ;  and 
then,  without  saying  a  word,  moved  toward  the  single 
tallow  candle  which,  stuck  into  a  gourd,  stood  on  the  an 
vil  near  by. 

"  I  can't  spare  my  only  candle,  if  it's  your  arms  you 
want  to  look  for,"  said  Hans,  stepping  forward  ;  "  the  night 
air  will  flare  it  all  away.  Nobody  will  touch  your  belt 
where  it  lies  atween  now  and  to-morrow  morning." 

The  outlaw,  glowering  upon  him,  muttered  something 
inaudible  in  reply ;  and,  without  heeding  the  behest  of 
Hans,  seized  upon  the  candle.  The  first  movement  he 
made  in  lifting  it,  threw  the  light  full  upon  Greyslaer. 
Valtmeyer,  in  his  surprise,  let  the  gourd  fall  from  his 
hands,  and  the  taper  it  held  was  instantly  extinguished 
in  the  black  dust  beneath  his  feet.  There  was  now  barely 
light  enough  from  the  forge  to  distinguish  the  outlines  of 


340  G  K  E  Y  S  L  A  E  K  ; 


his  person  where  he  stood,  and,  by  plunging  instantly 
into  the  surrounding  darkness,  he  might  at  once  have  es 
caped.  But,  uttering  the  cry  of  "Treachery"  in  the 
moment  he  let  the  candle  fall,  he  snatched  from  the  fur 
nace  a  red-hot  iron — a  crowbar,  as  it  seemed  from  its 
size — and,  swinging  it  double-handed  about  his  head, 
made  for  the  door. 

The  entrance  to  the  hovel  lay  in  deep  shadow,  but  his 
glowing  weapon  betrayed  his  position  as  he  dashed  from 
one  side  to  the  other  to  find  the  means  of  exit.  Hans  struck 
at  him  repeatedly  with  a  cold  iron  which  he  had  caught 
up  at  the  first  onset ;  but  Valtmeyer,  at  one  moment  whirl 
ing  his  terrible  truncheon  like  a  flail  about  his  ears,  and 
launching  it  forward  like  a  harpoon  the  next,  not  only 
warded  off  the  attack,  but  at  one  of  his  thrusts  fairly  bore 
Hans  to  the  ground  ;  while  the  leathern  apron  of  the  black 
smith,  shrivelling  up  at  the  contact,  alone  prevented  the 
red-hot  iron  from  passing  through  his  body. 

As  Hans  stumbled  over  a  billet  of  wood  in  falling,  Valt 
meyer  might  yet  have  followed  up  his  advantage  ;  but 
Greyslaer,  who,  with  drawn  sword,  had  planted  himself 
in  the  doorway  to  prevent  his  escape  in  the  first  instance, 
now  rushed  forward  and  dealt  a  blow  which  would  have 
smitten  any  common  man  to  the  earth,  and  even  the  braw 
ny  Valtmeyer  went  down  on  one  knee  beneath  it.  Another 
blow  with  the  sabre's  edge  would  here  have  terminated 
his  career  ;  but  Max,  seeing  him  drop  the  crowbar,  as  if 
his  right  arm  had  been  paralyzed  from  his  shoulder,  was 
thrown  off  his  guard  by  Valtmeyer's  apparently  defence 
less  condition,  and  in  another  instant  the  active  ruffian  was 
beyond  the  reach  of  his  sword. 

There  was  a  long,  low,  open  window,  such  as  are  usual 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  341 

in  a  blacksmith's  shanty,  near  where  Valtmeyer  fell,  and 
the  sill  of  which  he  had  grasped  with  his  left  hand  in  fall 
ing.  Through  this  he  flung  himself,  unharmed  by  the 
pistol  shot  with  which  Greyslaer  almost  simultaneously 
accompanied  his  sudden  movement. 

Max  leaped  instantly  after  him  in  pursuit ;  but,  as  the 
fugitive  became  invisible  in  the  surrounding  darkness,  he 
turned  to  secure  his  horse,  of  which  the  outlaw  might 
otherwise  make  prize.  Hans  appeared  the  next  moment 
with  a  light.  They  traced  Valtmeyer  by  the  blood  from 
his  sword-cut  for  a  few  yards  only.  The  dust  of  the  road 
was  spotted  with  it,  but  the  dew  lay  heavy  upon  the  grass 
which  bordered  it,  and  there  were  thickets  opposite,  into 
which  he  must  instantly  have  plunged,  after  crossing  the 
highway. 

Valtmeyer's  belt  for  holding  his  arms,  to  which  his  bul 
let-pouch  was  still  attached,  was  the  first  thing  that  caught 
Greyslaer's  eye  as  he  re-entered  the  cabin.  The  weapons 
he  handed  over  to  Hans,  who  seemed  better  contented 
with  the  issue  of  the  night's  adventure  as  he  scrutinized 
his  share  of  the  spoils  with  a  workmanlike  eye.  But  the 
seams  of  the  girdle  inclosed  matters  far  more  interesting 
to  Max  than  the  ammunition  with  which  the  pouch  was 
stored.  There  were  letters  from  some  of  the  leading  To 
ries  in  Albany,  who,  as  is  now  well  known,  maintained 
throughout  the  war  a  secret  correspondence,  which  the 
sagacious  Schuyler,  in  order  to  avail  himself  of  the  intelli 
gence  from  Canada  thus  procured,  wisely  permitted  to  go 
forward  so  long  as  he  could  successfully  counterplot  with 
these  subtle  traitors.  These  papers  were,  of  course,  to 
be  forwarded  at  once  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  Alba 
ny.  But  there  were  also  letters  relating  to  private  mat- 


342  GREYSLAEK; 


ters  which  awakened  a  deeper  personal  interest  in  Grey- 
slaer,  and  whose  contents  he  did  not  feel  called  upon  him 
self  to  communicate,  save  to  the  parties  immediately 
interested.  One  of  them  was  from  the  famous  Joe  Bettys 
to  Bradshawe  himself;  and  the  heart  of  Greyslaer  thrilled 
within  him  as  he  read  the  following  passage : 

"  Wolfert  will  do  all  that  is  necessary  among  our  friends 
in  the  Valley.  The  business  on  hand  in  this  district  will 
not  allow  us  both  to  leave  it.  The  best  rallying-point  is 
somewhere  among  the  Scotch  clearings  north  of  the  Mo 
hawk.  The  Cave  of  Waneonda,  you  may  depend  upon  it, 
will  never  do  ;  and  that  for  more  reasons  than  one.  Your 
revival  of  that  c — d  D.  R.  affair  must  have  made  it  more 
or  less  notorious.  How  the  devil  did  that  wench  slip 
through  your  fingers  ?  Valtmeyer  has  explained  the  mat 
ter  to  me  a  dozen  times,  but  I  cannot  understand  it. 
Zounds  !  I  would  like  to  make  an  honest  woman  of  that 
mettlesome  huzzy  myself.  But  your  claim  must  ever  pre 
vent  her  becoming  Mistress  Joe  Bettys.  By  the  way, 
Wat,  did  she  ever  suspect  who  played  the  parson's  part 
in  the  beginning  of  that  wild  business?  The  jade  must 
some  day  know  how  much  she  is  beholden  to  me  ;  but  the 
secret,  I  need  hardly  tell  you,  is  safe  until  the  endorsement 
of  a  genuine  black-coat  shall  make  all  things  secure.  Had 
you  been  the  man  I  took  you  for,  the  girl  would  have 
gone  on  her  knees  to  ask  for  it  before  you  ever  let  her  es 
cape  from  Waneonda.  But  to  return,"  &c. 

Greyslaer  could  read  no  further.  The  characters  swam 
before  his  eyes ;  his  senses  became  dizzied  ;  and  were  it 
not  for  the  support  of  the  workbench  against  which  he 
leaned,  he  must  have  fallen  to  the  ground.  It  was  but  for  an 
instant,  however,  that  he  was  thus  unmanned,  and  it  were 


A    ROMANCE    OF     THE    MOHAWK.  343 

impossible  to  say  what  feeling  predominated  in  the  con 
flicting  emotions  which  for  that  first  moment  overwhelmed 
him  ;  though  a  wild  joy,  an  eager  and  confident  hope 
prompted  his  next  movement,  as,  calling  in  an  agitated 
voice  for  his  horse,  he  waited  not  for  Hans  to  pass  out  of 
the  door,  but,  brushing  almost  rudely  past  him,  threw  him 
self  into  the  saddle,  and  galloped  off  in  the  direction  of  the 
Hawksnest. 

The  astounded  smith  stood  listening  for  a  few  moments 
to  his  horse's  footfalls  as  they  rapidly  died  away  in  the 
distance,  shook  his  head,  and  touched  his  forehead  signifi 
cantly,  as  if  he  feared  that  all  were  not  right  with  his 
young  friend  ;  then  slowly  withdrawing  into  his  shop,  he 
shot  the  bolt  behind  him,  extinguished  the  fires,  and,  taking 
up  the  outlaw's  belt,  which  he  paused  to  examine  again  for 
a  moment,  passed  through  a  side  wicket  into  a  log  cabin 
which  adjoined  the  shed,  and  constituted  his  humble  dwell 
ing. 

Greyslaer,  before  reaching  the  Hawksnest,  was  chal 
lenged  by  the  party  of  his  friends  whom  he  met  returning 
from  their  evening  visit,  and  whose  approach,  though  the 
young  officers  rode  gayly  along,  talking  and  laughing  with 
each  other,  he  did  not  notice  till  he  was  in  the  midst  of 
them.  A  few  hurried  words,  suggesting  on  their  part 
that  he  must  have  forgotten  something  of  importance,  and 
implying  upon  his  that  he  would  overtake  them  before 
they  reached  the  garrison,  was  all  that  passed  between 
them  as  he  brushed  impatiently  by. 

The  family  had  all  retired  when  he  reached  the  home 
stead  ;  but  a  light  still  burned  in  Alida's  apartments.  He 
threw  his  rein  over  the  paling,  and,  after  trying  the  outer 


344  GREYSLAER; 


door  in  vain,  stepped  back  from  the  verandah,  and  looked 
to  the  only  window  through  which  the  light  appeared. 
The  curtain  was  drawn,  but  a  shadow,  which  ever  and 
anon  fell  across  it,  showed  that  the  inmate  of  the  cham 
ber  had  not  yet  sought  her  repose.  It  was  with  Alida 
alone  that  he  must  secure  an  interview ;  and  Max,  in  the 
agitation  of  his  spirits,  did  not  hesitate  at  the  first  means 
which  presented  themselves.  There  was  on  that  side  of 
the  house  a  porch,  with  a  balcony  over  it,  having  a  single 
window  cut  down  to  the  floor.  This  window  opened  into 
Alida's  dressing-room,  which  communicated  with  her  bed 
chamber.  Greyslaer  clambered  to  the  top  of  the  balcony, 
and  tapped  against  the  panes  of  glass  in  the  moment  that 
the  light  was  extinguished. 

"  Fear  not,"  he  said,  "  it  is  I,  Max  Greyslaer.  I  come 
with  tidings  of  such  import  to  you  that  I  could  not  sleep 
before  possessing  you  of  them." 

Alida,  hastily  throwing  a  loose  wrapper  around  her 
person,  opened  the  casement.  "  Heavens  !  Captain  Grey- 
sjaer,"  she  exclaimed,  "  what  urgent  peril  can  have — my 
brother  Derrick,  it  is  not  of  him " 

"  No,  no,  no  peril — nothing  of  Derrick — undo  the  door 
below — it  is  of  you — it  is  your  concerns  alone  which  have 
brought  me  here  at  this  untimely  hour." 

"  Is  the  matter,  then,  so  pressing  ?  Can  we  not  wait  till 
morning  ?"  said  Alida,  in  strange  agitation. 

"  I  cannot  trust  it  till  the  morrow.  I  cannot  sleep,  I 
must  not  move  from  near  you,  till  you  hear  it." 

"  Speak  it  out  at  once,  then,  Max,  for  my  poor  nerves 
will  not  bear  this  suspense,"  said  Alida,  with  increasing 
tremor  of  voice. 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.          345 

"  I  cannot  speak  it  all ;  I  must  have  light  to  reveal  it  by. 
See  here  this  written  paper,  Alida." 

"  And  what  does  it  say  ?"  she  replied  with  forced  calm 
ness.  "  Tell  me,  Max  Greyslaer ;  if  it  be  good  or  evil,  I 
had  rather  receive  it  from  your  lips  than  from  any  other 
source." 

il  Heaven  bless  you  for  those  words.  My  tidings  are 
far  from  evil,  yet  I  scarce  know  how  to  break  them  to 
you.  There  was  a  bird — do  you  remember  it,  Alida,  one 
day  in  years  gone  by  ?  a  bird  that  we  watched  together 
as  it  sat  crouched  upon  the  lowest  bough  of  yonder  chest 
nut,  while  a  hawk  long  hovered  mid  the  topmost  branches  ; 
it  seemed  withering  in  the  shadow  of  those  ill-omened 
wings.  A  chance  shot  from  Derrick  at  a  distance  frighted 
the  falcon  from  his  perch  of  vantage ;  but  the  besieged 
songster  also  fell  to  the  ground  at  sound  of  the  report 
which  drove  his  enemy  from  his  stooping-place,  and 
seemed  like  to  perish,  when  you  caught  up  the  little  trem 
bler  and  cherished  him  in  your  bosom." 

"  Oh  !  Max,  what  mean  these  wild  words,  spoken  at 
such  a  time  ?"  said  Alida  ;  for  this  fanciful  allusion  seemed 
90  unsuited  to  the  earnest  purposes  of  the  moment,  and 
was  so  unlike  the  wonted  manly  directness  of  Greyslaer's 
mind,  that,  coupled  with  his  agitated  manner  and  the  other 
strange  circumstances  of  the  interview,  Alida  was  shocked 
for  the  moment  with  the  apprehension  that  his  brain  might 
be  disordered. 

"  Nay,  but  they  are  not  unmeaning,  if  you  will  but  in 
terpret  them,  Alida  !  Have  you  not  sat  thus  beneath  the 
withering  wing  of  sorrow  ?  Have  you  not  been  ruth 
lessly  hawked  at,  and  made  the  prey  of  villainy  the  most 
hideous  ?  And  has  not  chance,  or  God's  own  providence 
16 


346  CREYSLAER; 

call  it  rather,  brought  the  hour  of  relief,  which  is  come 
even  now  ?" 

"  Is  he  dead,  then  ?"  whispered  Alida,  clasping  her 
hands,  as  a  light  seemed  to  break  in  upon  her  from  Grey- 
slaer's  words. 

"  Dead  ?  ay  ! — no,  not  that ;  but  he  is  to  you  as  if  he 
never  lived.  They  deceived  you,  Alida ;  the  supposed 
ties  which  so  manacled  your  soul  have  never  yet  had  an 
existence ;  it  was  a  false  marriage,  a  fiend-like  and  most 
damnable  contrivance  to  destroy  you.  Look  not  so  doubt 
ful  and  bewildered.  I  have  the  written  evidence  of  what 
I  say  !  Alida,  dearest  Alida,  speak — speak  and  tell  me 
that  you  doubt  not.  It  is  I,  Max  Greyslaer,  who  always 
loved,  and  never  yet  deceived  you  ;  it  is  I " 

But  Alida  was  mute  and  motionless.  Her  tottering 
knees  had  failed  to  support  her,  though  she  clung  to  the 
dressing-table  near  which  she  stood  for  support.  Grey 
slaer  quickly  passed  through  the  window,  and,  catching 
her  fainting  form  from  the  floor,  bore  her  out  to  the  bal 
cony.  Supporting  her  there  on  one  knee,  he  anxiously 
chafed  her  pulses,  while  the  refreshing  breeze  of  night, 
playing  through  the  long  tresses  which  dropped  over  her 
shoulders,  aided  in  reviving  his  lovely  burden. 

It  was  a  strange  scene  that  which  followed  ;  nor  could 
any  one,  however  familiar  with  the  proud  and  wayward 
spirit  of  Alida,  have  divined  how  it  would  eventuate.  A 
new  crisis  in  her  destiny  was  at  hand  ;  a  double  crisis,  as 
it  seemed  from  Greyslaer's  last  words  of  earnest  affection. 
She  was  not  prepared  for  either  of  them  ;  and  she  endeav 
ored  to  avoid  the  last  by  overwhelming  Max  with  grati 
tude  for  his  disinterestedness. 

"  No.   Miss    de    Roos,    no."    said    Greyslaer,    almost 


A     ROMANCE     OF     THE     MOHAWK.  347 

fiercely.  "  I  will  receive  no  gratitude,  no  thanks,  no 
friendship  at  your  hands.  There  is  but  one  return  such 
love  as  mine  can  accept,  and  if  you  give  me  not  that  we 
part  for  ever." 

li  Oh  why,  kindest  of  friends,  can  we  not  still  be  to  each 
other  as  we  have  been  ?" 

"Alida,"  cried  Max  with  wild  emotion,  "you  would 
turn  the  madness  of  my  nature  against,  itself." 

"  What  madness  ?  Oh,  kind,  good,  noble  Greyslaer,  be 
not  so  excited." 

"  Woman,  you  will  infuriate  me.  I  am  neither  of  these. 
Whatever  there  seems  of  good  in  me  springs  from  my 
love  of  you,  Alida  ;"  and  the  tones  in  which  he  now  pro 
nounced  her  name  thrilled  through  her  very  spirit.  "  Ali 
da,  thou  knowest  that  my  devotion  to  you  was  a  madness  ! 
Beautiful,  oh,  bewilderingly  beautiful  as  thou  art,  what 
other  man  breathing,  had  he  known  what  I  know,  or  be 
lieved  what  I  believe,  would  have  lavished  his  worship 
on  such  an  idol — would  have  consecrated  his  manhood  to 
misery,  and  left  his  age  without  a  solace  ?  It  was  mad 
ness  in  me." 

"  Could  I  help  it  ?"  gasped  Alida,  now  deadly  pale. 

"  No,  you  could  not,"  said  Max,  with  a  smile  of  bitter 
pride  ;  "  it  was  a  devotion  self-lavished  from  the  fullness 
of  my  soul,  not  wrung  from  it  by  the  imperious  exac 
tion  of  yours." 

"  And  you  believe,  Greyslaer,"  said  the  girl  with  a 
flush  of  generous  disdain,  "  that  I  would  turn  this  noble 
weakness  of  your  nature — if  weakness  indeed  it  be — that  I 
would  turn  it  against  yourself?" 

"Believe  it? — I  know  it,"  answered  Max  with  eye  of 


348  GREYSLAER; 


open  frankness  but  lip  compressed  with  stern  determina 
tion. 

"  Am  I  so  mean  of  soul  then,  in  Captain  Greyslaer's 
opinion?"  said  Alida,  with  flashing  eye. 

But  Greyslaer  quailed  not,  though  his  voice  was  hoarse 
with  suppressed  emotion,  as  he  replied,  "  You  are  a 
woman,  Alida — all,  all  of  woman,  or  these  hungry  veins 
had  not  wasted  in  consuming  passion  for  you."  The 
girl  trembled,  and  he  paused  and  pressed  his  folded  arms 
upon  his  bosom,  as  if  keeping  down  emotion,  and  then,  with 
gaze  fixed  upon  her,  and  clear,  slow  enunciation,  went  on. 
*'  You  are  a  woman,  and  fond  of  power  as  are  all  your  sex. 
You  have  lived  of  late,  for  months,  amid  its  triumphs. 
Unscathed  by  one  jealous  pang,  I  even  joyed  to  see  you 
thus  forget  your  sorrows  ;  but  it  was  amid  your  sorrows 
that  I  remained  your  slave." 

"  I  can  never  be  too  grateful,"  said  Alida  tearfully. 

"  Grateful  !  grateful  !"  responded  Max  with  scorn. 

"Indeed,  most  grateful,"  repeated  Alida  with  something 
of  demureness. 

"  Woman,  you  shall  not  thus  foil  me,"  cried  her  lover, 
while  his  broad  brow  glistened  with  the  white  heat  of 
transcendent  passion,  illuminating  it  from  within.  "  You 
love  me,  Alida,  you  know  it,  you  feel  it.  You  dare  not 
look  into  your  heart's  core,  and  say  there  is  not  there  a 
love  as  boundless,  an  affection  as  infinite  as  my  own.  But 
you  would  cover  it  up — yes,  you  would  cover  up  the  tide 
of  sympathy  that  surges  your  soul  toward  mine,  till  deep 
should  answer  to  deep,  in  exhaustless,  never-wearying 
tenderness." 

Alida  trembled  like  an  aspen,  and  Max  hesitated.     She 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.          349 

recovered,  and,  in  reply  to  a  haughty  bend  of  the  head, 
he,  under  the  still  haughtier  influence  of  tyrannic  passion, 
went  on  :  "  You  would — you  would  stifle,  you  would  turn 
aside  God's  blessed  current  of  true  emotion — you  would 
forget  all — deny  all,  to  me — to  yourself  deny  it.  And 
why  ?" 

"  And  why,  sir  ?" 

"  Because,  in  your  unconscious,  secret,  self-willed  arro 
gance  of  heart,  you  would  turn  the  mad  devotedness  of 
my  nature  against  itself,  and  still  in  your  prosperity,  drink 
up  the  wild  homage  I  gave  you  in  adversity,  until  my  de 
feated  life  should  be  numbered  among  the  triumphs  of 
your  woman's  power.  And  then,  self-idolizing  girl,  while 
I  withered  for  thee,  thou  wouldst  call  thy  soul-defrauding 
ministry,  *  Friendship.'  ' 

"  Oh  God !  am  I  such  a  thing  as  that  ?"  cried  Alida, 
borne  down  by  the  impetuosity  of  her  lover. 

"  Alida — noble  Alida,"  said  Max,  now  deeply  affected, 
but  still  firm,  "  you  are  that  woman — your  lonely  wrest 
ling  with  a  terrible  sorrow  at  one  time,  your  reckless 
efforts  to  dissipate  it  at  another,  have  thus  made  you,  un 
consciously,  self-absorbed." 

"  Oh,  Max  !  I  am  most  unworthy  of  your  love." 

"  Unworthy  ?  Hear  me,  Alida  ;  without  you  I  were 
companionless  amid  my  kind  for  ever  ;  but  I  accept  your 
companionship  upon  no  terms  of  gratitude,  of  friendship, 
of  sisterly  communion.  Mine  you  are  ;  mine  you  must 
be  ;  mine — all  mine  ;  mine  in  your  heart,  in  your  spirit, 
in  your  affections,  in  your  pride — in  all  the  rich  abun 
dance  of  a  glorious  nature  that  God  sent  here  for  me  to 
idolize  in  that  form  of  loveliness." 


350  GREYSLAER. 


"  And  could  you — could  you  then  leave  me,  Max,  if  I  do 
not  thus  acknowledge  thee  ?" 

She  spoke  these  words  in  a  low  appealing  tone.  A  con 
vulsive  tremor  shook  the  sinewy  form  of  the  young  soldier 
as  he  replied  with  solemn  emphasis  : 

"  God  only  knows  if  I  can  give  thee  up  and  live.  But 
/  know  that  I  will  if  here — under  these  stars  to-night — 
thy  soul  does  not  make  true  and  full  answer  unto  mine. 
I  will  leave  thee,  and  for  ever." 

"  Jind  then  we  should  both  be  miserable" 

The  words  were  few,  and  she  pronounced  them  calmly 
like  a  simple  truism  ;  but  they  told  the  whole  tale  of  a 
common  sympathy,  they  acknowledged  the  full  law  of  a 
common  destiny  between  them ;  and  she  did  not  with 
draw  her  own  hand,  nor  recoil  from  the  light  touch  of  his 
arm,  as  Max  circled  her  waist  in  kneeling. 

The  moon,  which  was  in  its  last  quarter,  at  this  moment 
cast  above  the  trees  the  golden  light  she  loves  to  shed  in 
waning.  The  mellow  beam  caught  the  eyes  of  Alida,  and 
a  tear — the  first  tear  of  affection  Max  had  ever  seen  her 
shed — trembled  upon  their  lids  as  she  turned  from  that 
soft  harbinger  of  happier  days  to  the  soulful  face  of  her 
lover.  The  impulse  was  resistless  which  made  Greyslaer, 
in  that  moment,  snatch  her  to  his  bosom.  "  Yes,  dearest 
Max,  I  am  yours  :"  are  not  those  the  words  she  murmurs 
in  reply  to  the  unutterable  tenderness  of  his  mute  caress  ? 

She  paused :  and  in  that  pause  there  was  an  Elysian 
moment  for  them  both.  But  in  another  instant  Alida  ex 
tricated  herself  from  his  embrace  ;  and  though  she  suffered 
him  still  to  retain  her  hand,  her  voice  was  yet  painfully 
constrained  and  altered  as  she  spoke  what  follows. 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE    MOHAWK,  351 

"Ah  !  Greyslaer,  I  i'ear  me  this  flood  of  happiness  has 
come  in  too  quickly  to  last  for  either  of  us.  That  paper 
may  be — nay,  look  not  thus  hurt — I  doubt  not  that  it  con 
tains  sufficient  to  produce  entire  conviction  in  your  rnind  as 
well  as  mine;  for,  had  it  not  been  for  the  deep  reliance  I  place 
upon  your  judgment,  Max — a  judgment  so  far  beyond  your 
years — I  should  never  have  betrayed  the  feelings  you  have 
beheld  this  night.  But,  whatever  be  the  fate  of  the  regard 
I  bear  you,  Greyslaer,  you  have  won  it,  and  it  is  yours. 
No,  never  would  I  recall  this  hour."  Max  mutely  pressed 
her  hand  to  his  lips,  and  she  went  on.  "  But  it  is  a  strange 
and  dark  story  of  which  we  have  now  the  threads  in  our 
hands,  and  I  shudder  with  the  fear  that,  deeming  too 
quickly  we  have  unravelled  it  all,  there  may  be  others 
interwoven  with  it  not  so  easy  to  disentangle.  My  name 
must  be  cleared,  not  only  to  your  satisfaction,  Greyslaer, 
but  to  that  of  all  who  have  ever  heard  its  sound,  before  I 
will  change  it  for  yours  ;  and  in  these  troubled  times  it  is 
long  before  I  can  hope  for  such  a  result." 

'•  Your  name,  Alida  !  None  have  ever,  none  dare  ever, 
connect  that  with  dishonor.  Your  name !  Why.  this 
terrible  secret  has  been  so  kept  from  the  world,  that  I 
never  dreamed  of  mystery  attending  you  till  you  yourself 
revealed  that  there  was  one." 

"  Yes,  in  the  class  with  which  we  have  most  mingled, 
my  story  is  but  little  known ;  but  there  must  be  many  of 
the  country  people  of  a  different  grade,  though  worthy  of 
respect  as  those  who  sometimes  pretend  to  engross  it  all, 
who  cannot  but  have  heard  of  it ;  and  I  would  not  have 
the  simplest  rustic  cherish  a  memory  that  can  do  irrever 
ence  to  the  wife  of  Greyslaer.  Let  us  wait,  dearest  Max ; 
wait  till  time — till  chance,  which  has  already  done  so  much 


352  GREYSLAER; 


for  me,  shall  determine  still  farther.  Till  then,  affianced 
to  you  in  soul  Alida  will  still  remain  ;  and  whate'er  betide, 
she  will  never  be  another's." 

Greyslaer,  who  knew  too  well  the  character  of  Alida  to 
remonstrate  against  her  purpose  when  settled,  determined 
at  least  to  defer  whatever  he  had  to  urge  against  her  reso 
lution  until  a  more  propitious  season.  Besides,  with  a 
lover's  thoughtful  consideration,  he  feared  that  the  night 
air  might  blow  too  chilly  upon  the  loosely-arrayed  person 
of  Alida  to  render  it  safe  to  protract  the  interview.  They 
parted — not  with  the  prolonged  caressing  adieux  of  newer 
and  happier  lovers,  but  when  the  hand  which  Greyslaer 
was  loth  to  release  trembled  in  his  pressure  as  he  bade 
farewell,  he  stooped  to  print  a  salute  upon  the  pale  cheek 
which  was  not  withdrawn  from  him ;  and  in  the  next  in 
stant,  seizing  her  to  his  bosom  as  if  she  would  grow  there, 
his  lips  met  hers  in  one  long  kiss,  as  if  each  then  drank  in 
the  other's  soul  for  ever. 

And  now,  good  steed,  thou  bearest  a  different  man  upon 
thy  back  from  him  who  has  thrice  already  guided  thee  over 
the  same  road  to-night.  The  stern  and  disappointed  man 
that,  with  firm  hand  and  even  rein,  bent  his  twilight  course 
hither;  the  moody  and  abstracted  lover  that  loitered 
homeward  at  a  fitful  pace ;  the  wild-riding  horseman,  who 
spurred  ahead,  as  if  each  moment  were  of  importance  to 
solve  the  riddle  he  had  already  read — were  not  each  and 
all  of  these  a  different  being  from  the  buoyant  cavalier 
who  now,  with  ringing  bridle,  gallops  gayly  over  hill  and 
dale,  leaning  forward  now  to  pat  thy  glossy  neck  and 
speak  cheering  words  of  encouragement,  and  now  rising 
in  the  stirrup  as  if  his  happy  spirit  vaulted  upward  at  each 
gallant  bound  beneath  him  ?  Surely  there  is  a  music  in 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  353 

the  good  horse's  motions  which  times  itself  ever  to  our 
mood,  whate'er  the  changes  be. 

Alas  !  many  were  the  changes  of  mood  that  Greyslaer 
was  yet  doomed  to  know  ere  the  story  of  his  strange 
loves  was  ended.  But  of  the  delay  that  sickens  hope, 
the  doubt  that  withers  it ;  of  the  chilling  thoughts,  the 
shadowy  fears  of  the  future,  he  dreamed  not,  cared  not 
now,  more  than  he  did  for  the  clouds  which  crept  over 
the  skies  and  obscured  the  path  before  him.  His  mind 
was  filled  with  but  one  idea,  which  excluded  all  others. 
He  knew — what  once  to  know  or  once  to  believe,  in  that 
first  hour  of  belief  or  knowledge,  makes  all  the  world  a 
Paradise  around — He  knew  that  he  was  BELOVED. 

Shall  we  pause  to  paint  the  next  interview  between 
Max  and  Alida — when  the  happy  lover  won  from  her 
lips  the  final  words  of  her  full  betrothal  to  him  ?  Shall 
we  describe  those  which  followed,  when  Max,  with  argu 
ments  she  did  not  wish  to  answer,  convinced  her  that 
there  was  now  no  real  bar  to  their  wedded  happiness, 
and  she  yielded  up  all  thought  of  seeking  redress  for  her 
wrongs,  save  through  him  who  was  shortly  to  become 
the  rightful  guardian  of  her  honor  ;  to  the  friend  who 
had  already  become  dearer  to  her  than  her  life  ?  Shall 
we  tell  how  the  softening  influence  of  love  gradually 
melted  the  Amazonian  spirit  of  her  earlier  day,  until  the 
romantic  dream  of  retribution,  which  had  so  sternly 
strung  the  soul  of  the  once  haughty  Alida,  became  lost 
at  last  in  the  loving  woman's  tender  fears  lest  Bradshawe, 
now  so  far  removed  from  the  vengeance  of  her  lover, 
should  yet  cross  his  path  1  Shall  we  dwell  upon  the 
transports  of  feeling  which  agitated  the  soul  of  Max,  now 
burning  with  impatience  to  exact  such  retribution,  and 
16* 


354  GREYSLAER. 


now  absorbed  in  a  wild  confusion  of  delight  as  the  day 
approached  which  should  make  Alida  his  for  ever? 

Or  shall  we  rather  describe  his  chafing  vexation  and 
her  mute  forebodings  when  the  call  of  military  honor, 
abruptly  summoning  him  away  to  distant  and  dangerous 
duty,  deferred  that  blessed  expectation  of  their  union  to  a 
period  which  the  fearful  chances  of  civil  war  only  could 
determine  ? 

Shall  we  follow  the  patriot  soldier  in  his  bright  career 
of  achievement,  as,  courted  and  caressed  by  the  glowing 
eyes  and  chivalrous  spirits  of  the  South,  he  measures  his 
sword  with  the  boldest  of  his  country's  invaders,  or  min 
gles  with  few  superiors  in  council  among  the  noblest  of 
his  country's  defenders  ?  Shall  we  survey  him  in  that 
broader  field  of  action,  where  the  indulgence  of  personal 
animosity  and  schemes  of  vengeance  against  a  low  adven 
turer  like  Bradshawe  are  forgotten  and  swallowed  up  in 
the  more  general  and  nobler  interests  that  press  upon 
him  ;  but  where  the  image  of  Alida  is  still  as  dear  to  his 
mind  as  when  last  he  waved  a  reluctant  adieu  to  his  na 
tive  valley  ? 

But  no,  young  Max,  it  is  not  for  us  to  track  the  meteor 
windings  of  thy  soldierly  career  amid  those  thrilling 
scenes  which  Lee,  Sumter,  Pickens,  Marion,  and  Tarlton 
their  gallant  foe,  have  since  immortalized  in  guerilla 
story,  and  made  the  heritage  of  other  names  than  thine. 
The  record  of  thy  exploits  is  fully  chronicled,  mayhap,  in 
one  true  heart  only,  and  that  grows  daily  sadder  as  it 
counts  the  hours  of  thy  absence  and  dreams  of  the  friend 
who  is  far  away. 


BOOK    FIFTH. 

INVASION. 


"  Then  comes  a  power 
Into  this  kingdom,  who  already, 
Wise  in  our  negligence,  have  secret  feet 
In  some  of  our  best  ports,  and  are  at  point 
To  show  their  open  banner."  KINO  LEAR. 

"  The  fatal  Time 

Cuts  off  all  ceremonies  and  vows  of  love 
And  ample  interchange  of  such  discourse 
Which  so  long  sundered  friends  should  dwell  upon." 

RICHARD  III. 

"  On  the  stage 

Of  my  mortality  my  youth  hath  acted 
Some  scenes  of  vanity,  drawn  out  at  length 
By  varied  pleasures,  sweeten'd  in  the  mixture, 
But  tragical  in  issue."  THE  BROKEN  HEART. 

"  Thus  to  rob  a  lady 
Of  her  good  name  is  an  infectious  sin 
Not  to  be  pardoned.     Be  it  false  as  hell, 
'Twill  never  be  redeemed  if  it  be  sown 
Among  the  people,  fruitful  to  increase 
All  evils  they  shall  hear."  LOVE  LIES  A-BLEEDING. 

"  How  has  kind  Heaven  adorn'd  the  happy  land, 
And  scatter'd  blessings  with  a  wasteful  hand  ! 
But  what  avail  her  unexhausted  stores, 
Her  blooming  mountains,  and  her  sunny  shores, 
With  all  the  gifts  that  Heaven  and  Earth  impart, 
The  smiles  of  nature  and  the  charms  of  art, 
While  proud  oppression  in  her  valleys  reigns 
And  tyranny  usurps  her  happy  plains  ?"  ADDISOW. 


BOOK    FIFTH 

INVASION. 


CHAPTER    I. 


RANGERS'    REVELS. 


"  Round  -with  the  ringing  glass  once  more, 

Friends  of  my  youth  and  of  my  heart, 
No  magic  can  this  hour  restore ; 
Then  crown  it  ere  we  part. 

"  Ye  are  my  friends,  my  chosen  ones, 

Whose  blood  would  flow  with  fervor  true 
For  me  ;  and  free  as  this  wine  runs, 
"Would  mine,  by  Heaven !  for  you." 

HAMILTON  BOGART. 


A  YEAR  has  passed  away — the  second  year  of  the 
Revolution — and  Greyslaer  is  not  nearer  the  fruition  of 
his  hopes  than  in  the  hour  when  they  first  dawned  anew 
upon  his  soul.  The  calls  of  military  duty  have,  in  the 
mean  time,  carried  him  far  from  his  native  valley,  to 
which,  with  a  sword  whose  temper  has  been  tried  on 
many  a  Southern  field,  he  is  now  returning ;  for  New 
York  at  this  moment  needs  all  her  children  to  defend  her 
soil.  Burgoyne  upon  the  Hudson,  and  St.  Leger  along 


358  GREYSLAER; 


the  Mohawk,  are  marching  to  unite  their  forces  in  the 
heart  of  the  province,  and  sweep  the  country  from  the 
lakes  to  the  seaboard. 

The  ascendency  which,  upon  the  first  outbreak  of  hos 
tilities,  the  Whigs  of  Tryon  county  attained  over  the 
opposite  faction,  seemed,  at  this  period  of  the  great 
struggle,  about  to  be  wrenched  from  their  hands.  The 
conspiring  bands  of  Tories  which  had  been  driven  out  or 
disarmed  when  Schuyler  marched  upon  Johnstown  and 
crushed  the  first  rising  of  the  royalists,  had  lifted  the 
royal  standard  anew  upon  the  border,  and  rumors  of  the 
thousands  who  were  flocking  to  it  struck  dismay  into  the 
patriot  councils.  Brant  and  his  Mohawks  had  always 
kept  the  field  in  guerilla  warfare,  and  the  frontiersmen 
were  habituated  to  the  terror  of  his  name  ;  but  now  Guy 
Johnson,  who  had  been  stirring  up  the  more  remote 
tribes,  was  said  to  have  thickened  his  files  with  a  cloud 
of  savage  warriors.  The  combined  Indian  and  refugee 
forces  had  rendezvoused  at  Oswego,  thoroughly  armed 
and  appointed  for  an  efficient  campaign  ;  and  Barry  St. 
Leger,  who  took  command  of  the  whole,  boasted  confi 
dently  that  he  would  effect  a  conjunction  with  Burgoyne, 
if  that  leader  could  make  good  his  march  upon  Albany. 

Availing  himself  of  the  numerous  streams  and  lakes  of 
the  country  to  transport  his  artillery  and  heavy  munitions, 
St.  Leger  advanced  with  forced  marches  from  the  wilds 
of  the  north  and  the  west,  and,  penetrating  into  the  Val 
ley  of  the  Mohawk,  invested  Fort  Stanwix,  the  portal  of 
the  whole  region  beyond  the  Hudson.  The  province  far 
and  wide  was  alarmed  at  this  bold  and  hitherto  successful 
invasion ;  and  some  of  the  sturdiest  patriots  of  Tryon 
county  stood  aghast  at  the  incoming  torrent  which  threat- 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE     MOHAWK.  359 

ened  to  overwhelm  them.  But  the  anxiety  of  the  mass 
was  more  akin  to  the  alarm  that  rouses  than  to  the  terror 
which  paralyzes  action.  There  was  a  spirit  abroad  among 
the  people;  a  spirit  of  determined  resolve,  of  vengeful 
hatred  against  those  who  had  come  back  to  desolate  the 
land  with  fire  and  sword.  Sir  John  Johnson,  who  stood 
high  in  the  councils  of  the  invading  general,  had  approached 
the  threshold  of  his  forfeited  patrimony  ;  but  the  arrogant 
though  brave  baronet,  had  he  penetrated  as  far  as  the 
broad  domain  over  which  his  family  once  exercised  an 
almost  princely  sway,  would  have  found  that  strange 
changes  had  taken  place  among  his  rustic  and  once  hum 
ble  neighbors. 

The  march  of  armies,  the  pomp  and  parade  of  martial 
times,  with  many  of  the  dark  incidents  of  civil  feud  shad 
owing  the  pageantry  of  regular  warfare,  had  been  beheld 
in  the  Valley  of  the  Mohawk,  and  the  lapse  of  a  shor 
two  years  had  markedly  altered  the  character  of  the  dis 
trict  in  which  the  principal  scenes  of  our  story  are  laid. 
The  inhabitants  no  longer  gathered  together  in  village  or 
hamlet  to  reason  calmly  about  their  rights,  and  pass  for 
mal  resolutions  upon  the  conduct  of  their  rulers.  The 
reckless  assertion,  the  hot  and  hasty  reply,  the  careless 
laugh  or  fierce  oath  which  cut  short  the  laggard  argu 
ment,  showed  that  men's  tempers  had  altered,  and  the 
times  of  debate  had  long  since  given  way  to  those  of  ac 
tion.  The  soldier  had  taken  the  place  of  the  civilian  ; 
the  military  muster  supplanted  the  political  assemblage ; 
and  the  plain  yeomanry  of  a  rural  district  were  no  longer 
recognizable  in  the  gay  military  groups  that  seemed  to 
have  usurped  their  place  at  the  roadside  inn.  And  when 
the  proclamation  of  the  commandant  of  the  district  sum- 


360  GREYSLAER; 


moned  every  male  inhabitant  capable  of  bearing  arms  to 
the  field,  the  highways  were  filled  with  yeomanry  corps, 
battalions  of  infantry,  volunteers  from  the  villages,  and 
squadrons  of  mounted  rangers  from  the  remote  settle 
ments,  all  urging  their  way  to  the  general  rendezvous  at 
Fort  Dayton. 

Hitherward,  too,  occasionally,  intermingled  with  these 
raw  levies,  were  likewise  marching  bodies  of  experienced 
partisan  troops,  which,  as  the  scene  of  war  shifted  from 
one  part  of  the  northern  frontier  to  another,  had  kept  the 
field  from  the  first.  Armed  and  trained  to  serve  as  either 
cavalry  or  infantry,  the  "Mohawk  Ysegers,"  as  they 
called  themselves,  were  found  acting  now  as  videttes  and 
foraging  parties  for  the  Congressional  forces ;  fighting 
now  by  themselves  with  the  Indians  in  guerilla  conflict, 
and  now  again  co-operating  with  the  Continental  army  in 
regular  warfare.  The  public  house  of  Nicholas  Wingear, 
which  lay  immediately  upon  the  road  to  Fort  Dayton, 
was  at  this  time  a  favorite  stopping-place  of  refreshment 
with  the  different  corps  which  composed  this  motley 
army,  and  a  small  command  had  halted  there  for  the 
night  at  the  time  we  resume  the  thread  of  our  story. 

The  old  stone-built  inn,  with  its  ruined  sheds  and  out 
houses  of  half-hewn  logs,  which  used  to  stand  somewhere 
about  midway  upon  the  road  between  Canajoharie  and 
German  Flats,  has  probably  long  since  given  place  to 
some  more  modern  hostelrie.  Mine  ancient  host,  too,  the 
worthy  Deacon  Wingear — unless  the  flavor  of  his  liquor 
lives  in  the  memory  of  some  octogenarian  toper — is  per- 
hapsjikewise  forgotten.  It  is  not  less  our  duty,  however, 
to  chronicle  his  name  here  while  opening  this  act  of  our 
drama  beneath  the  hospitable  roof  of  Nicholas. 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  361 

The  apartment  in  which  the  ranger  corps  were  carous 
ing  was  large  and  rudely  furnished,  containing  only — be 
sides  the  permanent  fixture  of  a  bar  for  the  sale  of  liquors, 
which  was  partitioned  oft'  under  the  staircase  at  one  end 
of  the  room — a  small  cherry-wood  table  and  a  few  rush- 
bottomed  chairs  as  its  customary  movables.  Temporary 
arrangements  seemed,  however,  to  have  been  lately  made 
for  a  greater  number  of  guests  than  these  would  accom 
modate.  An  oaken  settle  had  been  brought  from  its  place 
in  the  porch,  and  arranged,  with  several  hastily-con 
structed  benches,  around  a  rude  substitute  for  a  dining- 
table,  formed  by  nailing  a  pair  of  shutters  upon  a  stout 
log  placed  upright  upon  the  floor ;  the  convenience  being 
eked  out  in  length  by  some  unplaned  boards  resting  upon 
an  empty  cask  or  two. 

The  rudeness  of  this  primitive  banqueting  furniture 
could  hardly  be  said  to  be  smoothed  away  by  a  soiled 
and  crumpled  table-cloth  which  scantily  concealed  less 
than  half  of  its  upper  surface.  It  appeared,  however,  to 
answer  the  purpose  with  the  bluff  campaigners  who  were 
now  seated  around  it,  filling  beaker  after  beaker  from  a 
huge  pewter  flagon  which  rapidly  circulated  around  the 
board.  Nor  did  they,  while  making  the  most  of  these 
ungainly  appliances  for  their  comfort,  envy  the  burly  and 
selfish  lounger  who  occupied  and  monopolized  two  or 
three  of  the  chairs,  as  well  as  the  smaller  and  neater 
table  in  one  corner  of  the  apartment.  Of  this  privileged 
and  loutish  individual  we  shall  speak  hereafter.  A  heavy 
black  patch  covered  one  of  his  eyes ;  but  the  curious 
glances  which  he  with  the  other  ever  and  anon  cast  upon 
the  carousing  soldiery  would  appear  to  intimate  that  they 


362  GREYSLAER; 


were  worthy  of  a  more  minute  description  than  we  have 
yet  given  of  them. 

Their  stacked  arms  and  knapsacks  flung  carelessly  in 
the  corners  might  indicate  that  they  were  only  some  fa 
tigue  party  of  militia  that  had  stopped  here  for  refresh 
ment  ;  or  it  might  be  a  detachment  from  some  larger 
body  of  light  troops  which  had  halted  for  the  night  upon 
their  march  through  the  country.  The  absence  of  all 
military  etiquette,  and  the  free  and  equal  tone  of  their 
intercourse,  as  they  sat  all  drinking  at  the  same  board, 
would  imply  that  they  were  only  privates  of  some  volun 
teer  company  of  foot.  And  yet,  if  his  sabre  and  spurs 
were  wanting,  there  was  still  that  in  the  appearance  as 
well  as  the  equipments  of  more  than  one  of  their  number 
which  would  anywhere  have  distinguished  him  from  the 
common  soldier  of  a  marching  regiment,  much  more  from 
an  ordinary  militia-man.  His  looks  were  too  intelligent 
for  those  of  a  mere  human  machine,  accustomed  only  to 
act  in  mechanical  unison  with  others.  His  features  were 
earnest,  but  not  rigid.  His  air  was  martial,  but  yet  not 
strictly  military.  It  betrayed  the  schooling  of  service 
rather  than  the  habit  of  discipline.  It  bespoke  the  sol 
dier,  who  had  been  made  such  by  circumstances  rather 
than  by  the  drill  sergeant.  In  a  word,  it  was  the  air  of 
a  guerilla,  and  not  of  a  regular. 

But  listen;  the  partisan  grows  musical  in  his  cups. 
There  is  a  grave  pause  in  his  wild  wassail;  he  has  linked 
hands  with  his  comrades  ;  and  now,  with  one  voice,  they 
raise  their  battle  hymn  together.  It  is  that  half-German 
gathering  song  which,  in  the  days  of  the  Revolution,  used 
to  stir  the  Teuton  blood  of  "The  old  Residenters,"  as  the 
men  of  the  Mohawk  called  themselves. 


A    ROMANCE    OF     THE    MOHAWK.  363 


FLING     ABROAD    THE    STARRY     BANNER. 


Raise  the  heart,  raise  the  hand, 
Swear  ye  for  the  glorious  cause, 
Swear  by  Nature's  holy  laws 

To  defend  your  fatherland  ! 
By  the  glory  ye  inherit, 

By  the  deeds  that  patriots  dare, 
By  Columbia's  freedom,  swear  it: 

By  YOUR  COUNTRY  this  day  swear  ! 
Raise  the  heart,  raise  the  hand, 

Fling  abroad  the  starry  banner, 

Ever  live  our  country's  honor, 
Ever  bloom  our  native  land. 


2. 

Raise  the  heart,  raise  the  hand, 
Let  the  earth  and  heaven  hear 
While  the  sacred  oath  we  swear, 

Swear  to  uphold  our  fatherland  ! 
Wave,  thou  lofty  ensign  glorious, 

Floating  foremost  in  the  field ; 
While  thine  eagle  hovers  o'er  us 

None  shall  tremble,  none  shall  yield. 
Raise  the  heart,  raise  the  hand, 

Fling  abroad  the  starry  banner, 

Ever  live  our  country's  honor, 
Ever  bloom  our  native  land. 


3. 

Raise  the  heart,  raise  the  hand, 
Raise  it  to  the  Father  spirit, 
To  the  Lord  of  Heaven  rear  it, 

Let  the  soul  tow'rtl  HIM  expand  ! 


364  GREYSLAER; 


Truth  unwavering,  faith  unshaken, 

Sway  each  action,  word,  and  will ; 
That  which  man  hath  undertaken, 

Heaven  can  alone  fulfil. 
Raise  the  heart,  raise  the  hand, 

Fling  abroad  the  starry  banner, 

Ever  live  our  country's  honor, 
Ever  bloom  our  native  land. 

The  solitary  lounger,  who  sat  aloof  from  the  soldiers, 
exhibited  every  sign  of  boorish  impatience  short  of  being 
directly  offensive,  as  each  new  verse  followed  the  repeti 
tion  of  the  chorus  from  the  other  table.  He  was  a  strong- 
featured,  bull-necked  fellow,  whose  slouched  drab  beaver, 
huge  loaded  whip,  and  blanket-cloth  overcoat  indicated 
the  occupation  of  a  teamster  or  drover.  A  pipe  and  pot 
of  beer  had  been  placed  before  him  while  the  soldiers 
were  in  the  midst  of  their  song  ;  with  whose  soothing  lux 
ury  he  seemed  not  fully  content,  however,  judging  by  the 
growling  impatience  with  which,  ever  and  anon,  he  now 
asked  about  some  toasted  cheese  that  it  appeared  was  pre 
paring  for  him  in  the  kitchen.  His  remarks  were  ad 
dressed  to  mine  host,  a  thin-faced,  lank-haired  worthy,  in  a 
complete  suit  of  black  velveteen,  who  stood  behind  the 
bar  with  slate  in  hand,  ready  to  make  any  addition  to  his 
reckoning  at  the  first  call  for  replenishing  the  jorum  of 
the  soldiers  ;  and  partly  to  a  tight  lass  that  glided  to  and 
fro  through  the  room,  on  the  alert  to  receive  the  orders  of 
the  company. 

"Why,  Tavy,  gal,"  said  the  drover,  "I  shall  have 
drank  up  all  my  ale  before  that  cheese  is  forthcoming. 
Your  mammy  ought  to  be  able  to  toss  up  such  a  trifle  at 
five  minutes'  notice.  I  must  ride  far  to-night  and  that 
right  soon,  to  overtake  my  cattle,  which  must  be  driven 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  365 

to  Fort  Dayton  before  breakfast  to-morrow.  And  here 
one  moment — I  would  tell  you  something,  my  pretty 
Tavy." 

"  Octavia — Sarah — Ann,"  cried  a  shrewish  female  voice 
from  the  kitchen. 

"  Go,  Tavy,  my  good  girl,  to  your  mother,"  said  mine 
host,  evidently  uneasy  to  get  the  girl  out  of  the  way  of 
the  cheese  customer.  "  Your  call  shall  be  obeyed  in  a 
moment,  worthy  sir  ;  only  have  a  little  patience.  We  are 
anything  but  strong-handed  in  this  house  just  now.  My 
son  Zachariah  went  off  with  the  Congress  soldiers  yes 
terday,  and  Scotch  Angus  stole  away  to  join  the  king's 
people  last  week.  The  niggers  are  all  sorting  the  horses 
that  came  in  to-night,  and  my  good  woman  has  no  one  to 
split  a  stick  for  her  till  Zip  comes  in  from  the  stable." 

"  Well,  Bully  Nick,  you  might  have  spared  all  that  long 
palaver  if  you  had  left  spry-tongued  Tavy  to  tell  me  the 
same  thing  in  three  words,  instead  of  squinting  and  blink 
ing  to  her  to  clear  out,  as  you  did  just  now.  Hark  ye, 
Nicholas,  I  would  say  a  word  to  you ;''  and  the  man, 
whose  lawless  features  put  on  a  scowl,  as  if  some  angry 
thought  had  struck  him,  beckoned  to  the  innkeeper  to  ap 
proach  near  enough  for  them  to  exchange  a  whisper 
together.  But  this  mark  of  confidence  Wingear  seemed 
sedulously  to  avoid  ;  and  the  traveller,  at  last  rising  ab 
ruptly  from  his  seat,  strode  up  to  the  bar,  and  flinging  down 
his  reckoning,  stalked  out  of  the  apartment ;  not,  however, 
before  he  had  leaned  over  the  counter,  and  catching  the 
shrinking  Nicholas  by  the  collar  of  his  coat,  muttered  in 
his  ear, 

"  I  see  you  know  me,  worthy  Nick  !  and,  seeing  that 
you  do,  I've  half  a  mind  to  split  your  weasand  for  fighting 


366  GREYSLAER; 

so  shy  of  an  old  acquaintance.  Sc/tinos  !  breathe  but  a 
syllable  to  this  rebel  gang,  and  I'll  roast  you  and  your 
household  among  these  rotten  timbers  before  morning. 
Remember  !  I  have  an  eye  upon  you,  even  among  that 
batch  of  fools  yonder." 

"  I  say,  deacon,"  cried  one  of  the  Y  aggers,  as  the  inn 
keeper,  stooping  down  behind  the  bar,  as  if  busied  in 
arranging  something,  managed  thus  to  conceal  the  terror 
which  this  formidable  speech  had  inspired,  "  I  say,  dea 
con,  my  boy,  who  the  devil's  that  surly  chap  who's  just 
left  us?" 

"  That's  more  than  I  can  tell  you,  Captain  de  Roos," 
replied  Wingear,  with  difficulty  mastering  the  trepidation 
into  which  he  had  been  thrown,  and  still  averting  his  face 
as  he  plied  his  towel  industriously  along  the  shelves  over 
which  he  leaned.  "  The  man's  in  the  cattle  business,  I 
believe,  sir,  as  he  talked  of  driving  some  critturs  to  Fort 
Dayton  for  the  troops  there." 

The  officer  paused  for  a  moment  in  mere  idleness  of 
thought,  as  it  seemed  from  the  intentness  with  which  he 
watched  the  smoke-wreaths  from  his  mouth  curling  up 
ward  toward  the  rafters  ;  and  then  knocking  the  ashes 
from  his  segar,  he  resumed  abruptly,  before  replacing  it 
in  his  lips, 

"  Did  you  ever  see  anything  of  Wolfert  Valtmeyer  in 
these  parts,  Nicky  ?" 

"  Oh  yes,  sir,"  answered  Octavia,  who  that  moment  en 
tered  with  a  fresh  flagon  from  the  cellar*;  "  he  stopped 
here  about  harvest  time  two  years  ago  with  Mr.  Brad- 
shawe,  just  as  the  troubles  were  beginning.  They  went 
off  in  a  hurry  ;  folks  said  because  old  Bait  the  hunter 
came  down  here  to  look  after  their  doings." 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE    MOHAWK.  367 

"  You  are  mistaken,  Tavy,"  said  her  father,  uneasily ; 
"  Bradshawe  and  the  drover — and  Valtmeyer  I  mean — 
put  down  the  pitcher,  gal,  and  don't  stand  gaping  at  me 
so.  The  drover  and  Brad — I  mean  Wolfert " 

"  You  mean  !  and  what  the  devil  do  you  mean  ?"  said 
the  soldier,  turning  round  fiercely,  and  fixing  a  stern  eye 
upon  the  innkeeper.  "  Keep  a  straight  tongue  between 
your  teeth,  Nick,  or  you  may  wish  it  bitten  off  when  too 
late." 

The  abashed  publican,  quailing  beneath  the  penetrat 
ing  glance  of  De  Roos,  was  glad  of  any  excuse  for  re 
maining  silent,  while  the  other,  addressing  the  girl,  thus 
pursued  his  inquiries : 

"  And  so,  my  pretty  Tavy,  you  saw  Valtmeyer  about 
two  years  since,  eh  1  About  the  time  of  Greyslaer's  fight, 
wasn't  it?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  either  just  before  or  just  after  Brant  carried 
off  Miss  Alida." 

The  features  of  the  gay  soldier  darkened  as  she  spoke; 
but  quickly  resuming  his  air  of  unconcern,  he  continued 
his  questions  by  asking, 

"  What  kind  of  a  looking  fellow  was  Wolfert  then  ? 
Did  he  bear  any  resemblance  to  the  drover  that  was  here 
but  now?" 

"  He  was  about  as  tall  as  the  drover,  sir,  but  not  so 
fleshy.  When  the  drover  had  his  back  turned  I  almost 
mistrusted  it  was  Mr.  Valtmeyer;  but  then  the  drover  was 
much  younger  and  rounder-faced,  and,  in  spite  of  the  black 
patch  over  his  eye,  altogether  more  likely  looking  than 
Mr.  Valtmeyer,  who  looked  mighty  homely  with  his  great 
sprangly  beard,  he  did ;"  and  the  girl  smoothed  down  her 
apron,  and  cast  a  glance  over  her  shoulder  at  a  bit  of 


368  GREYSLAER; 


looking-glass  stuck  against  a  post  of  the  bar,  as  if  she 
questioned  the  taste  of  the  unshorn  Wolfert  in  having  by 
his  toilet  shown  such  indifference  to  her  charms. 

"  He  was  thinner,  and  wore  a  long  beard,  eh  ?  a  razor 
and  good  quarters  would  easily  make  all  the  difference," 
soliloquized  De  Roos.  "But  the  impudent  scoundrel  would 
scarcely  dare  thus  to  put  his  head  in  the  lion's  mouth. 
Yet  I  must  have  an  eye  to  the  puritanical  curmudgeon 
that  this  simple  lass  has  the  courtesy  to  call  father."  And 
then  resuming  aloud,  he  added,  "Did  your  father  ever 
know " 

"  Octavia — Sarah — Ann,"  interrupted  the  shrill  voice 
from  the  kitchen. 

"  Curse  the  beldam  !"  muttered  De  Roos,  as  the  nuisance 
was  instantly  repeated. 

"  Octavia — Sarah — Ann,  come  take  this  toasted  cheese 
to  the  cattle  merchant." 

"  Yes,  mother,  yes,  I'm  coming  !  Had  you  any  more 
questions  to  ask  me,  captain  ?" 

"  Go,  gal,  go,"  growled  old  Wingear,  in  a  low  voice. 
"  You  are  too  fond,  young  missus,  of  keeping  here  among 
the  sogers." 

"  Any  more  questions  ?  no — stay  one  moment,  sweet 
Tavy,  my  blooming  Tavy.  Where  got  you  those  gay 
ribands  which  lace  that  bodice  so  charmingly  ?" 

"  Law,  sir,"  replied  the  girl,  bashfully  retiring  a  step  or 
two  as  the  gallant  soldier  stretched  out  his  hand  as  if  to 
draw  her  near  and  examine  the  trim  of  her  tasteful  little 
figure  more  curiously ;  "  law,  sir,  it's  only  the  blue  and; 
buff,  the  Congress  colors,  you  know,  that  old  Bait  brought 
me,  with  other  fixings,  from  Schenectady." 

"Octavia — Sarah — Ann,  if  ye're  not  here  in  the  peeling  of 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.          359 

an  inion, 'twill  be  the  worse  for  you,"  screamed  the  virago 
mother. 

"  You  see,  captain,  I  must  go." 

"  Zounds  !  what  a  tight  ankle  the  girl  has  too,"  quoth 
the  captain,  as  she  tripped  out  of  the  apartment.  "  And 
so  that  queer  quiz,  old  Bait,  has  induced  her  to  mount  the 
patriot  colors  !  Well,  I  hope  a  finer  riband  will  not  in 
duce  her  to  change  them  for  the  blue  and  silver  of  '  The 
Royal  New  Yorkers/  as  Johnson's  motley  gang  call  them 
selves.  For  '  Bold  and  true,  in  buff  and  blue,  &c. ;'  "  and 
the  mercurial  ranger  strolled  off  to  the  stables,  humming 
some  verses  of  an  old  song,  which  was  quickly  taken  up 
and  echoed  by  his  comrades. 

Oh  bold  and  true, 

In  buff  and  blue, 
Is  the  soldier-lad  that  will  fight  for  you, 

In  fort  or  field, 

Untaught  to  yield 
Though  Death  may  close  his  story — 

In  charge  or  storm, 

'Tis  woman's  form 
That  marshals  him  to  glory ; 

For  bold  and  true, 

In  buff  and  blue, 
Is  the  soldier-lad  that  will  fight  for  you. 

In  each  fair  fold 

His  eyes  behold 
When  his  country's  flag  waves  o'er  him — 

In  each  rosy  stripe, 

Like  her  lip  so  ripe, 
His  girl  is  still  before  him. 

For  bold  and  true, 

In  buff  and  blue, 

Is  the  soldier -lad  that  will  fight  for  you. 
17 


370  OBEYSLAEE; 


"  There  he  goes — God  bless  him — singing  for  all  the 
world  like  a  Bob-a-linkum  on  the  wing — a  crittur  whose 
very  natur  it  is  not  to  keep  still  for  a  moment,  and  to  make 
music  wherever  he  moves." 

"  And  what  mare's  nest  has  our  singing  bird  found  now, 
corporal  ?" 

"  Well,  I  don't  know,  sargeant ;  only,  if  the  captain  has 
got  upon  the  trail  of  Wild  Wolfert,  as  his  words  belikened, 
it  would  be  a  tall  thing  for  us  boys  to  seize  that  limb  o' 
Satan,  and  carry  him  along  with  us  to  the  German  Flats." 

"  Ay,  ay,  it  would  indeed  ;  but  though  our  scouts  would 
make  us  believe  that  both  he  and  Bradshawe  are  snooping 
about  the  country  among  the  Tories,  1  rather  guess  that 
they  are  both  snug  in  St.  Leger's  lines  before  Fort  Stan- 
wix." 

"No  doubt,  no  doubt,"  said  a  trooper,  rapping  an  empty 
flagon  with  the  hilt  of  his  sabre,  as  if  tired  of  the  discus 
sion  of  so  dry  a  subject.  "  Butler  could  never  spare  such 
an  officer  as  Bradshawe  at  such  a  time  as  this." 

"  Yes,"  rejoined  another,  "  and  if  he  were  really  skulk 
ing  about  among  the  Tories,  the  hawk-eyed  Willet  must 
have  lighted  upon  him  while  screwing  his  way  through 
such  a  ticklish  region  to  come  down  and  alarm  the  lower 
country  as  he  did." 

"  Come,  lieutenant,"  cried  one  who  had  not  yet  spoken, 
"give  us  another  song ;  and  be  it  a  merry  or  droll  one,  if 
it  suits  you  ;  this  is  the  last  night  we  are  to  mess  together 
like  gentlemen  volunteers.  To-morrow  we  shall  be  mus 
tered  with  the  old  Continentals,  and  then  the  cursed 
etiquette  of  army  discipline  puts  an  end  to  all  fun  among 
us.  It  takes  Captain  Dirk  a  whole  campaign  to  thaw 
out  into  a  clever  fellow  after  passing  a  week  with  his  com- 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE     MOHAWK.  371 

pany  in  the  regular  lines ;  and  as  for  you,  Tom  Wiley, 
who've  sat  the  whole  evening " 

"Spare  me,  worthy  Hans  ;  I  hate  to  find  myself  under 
the  command  of  a  Congress  officer  as  much  as  you  do, 
only  you  know  that,  for  the  honor  of  the  corps,  we  Yaegers 
should  keep  up  the  observances  of  military  rank  when  act 
ing  with  the  government  forces." 

"  That's  a  fact,  boys,"  said  the  corporal.  "  What !  would 
you  have  your  free  companies  confounded  with  the  com 
mon-draughted  milishy,  and  laughed  at  by  all  the  Con 
tinentals  as  they  be  ?  No,  no  ;  I  may  wince  as  much  as 
any  on  ye  when  I  feel  the  screws  o'  discipline  first  begin 
ning  to  set  tight,  but  I  like  to  see  our  captain  take  airs 
upon  himself  with  the  best  on  'em  when  it's  for  the  honor 
of  the  corps.  There  now's  the  Refugee  partisans  that 
fight  on  their  own  hook  just  like  ourselves — Johnson's 
Greens  and  Butler's  Rangers,  Tories  though  they  be — toe 
the  mark  like  raal  sodgers  upon  a  call  of  duty.  Oh,  you 
should  have  beeninGreyslaer's  company  to  see  discipline, 
and  that,  too,  jist  when  the  war  was  breaking  out;  only 
ask  Cornet  Kit  Lansingh,  when  the  poor  boy  comes  safe 
to  hand  again  from  that  wild  tramp  of  hisn  !  As  sure  as 
my  name's  Adam  Miller,  if  Major  Max  ever  comes  back 
from  the  South — 

"  It  will  be  to  haunt  you,  Adam,  for  prosing  about  these 
gloomy  byegones  instead  of  drinking  your  liquor.  Major 
Greyslaer  has  been  dead  these  six  months,  and  his  ghost 
ought  to  be  laid  by  this  time.  As  for  poor  Cornet  Kit,~the 
only  service  we  can  render  him  is  to  drink  his  memory  all 
standing." 

"Don't  tell  me  that,"  said  the  corporal, his  face  reddening 
with  indignation.  "  You  cnn't  riley  me  about  the  major. 


372  GREYSLAER; 


Tom  Wiley ;  for,  though  folks  would  make  out  that  he  fell 
at  Fort  Moultrie,  I  knows  what  I  knows  about  him  !  As 
for  Kit  Lansingh,  you  needn't  waste  liquor  by  drinking  to 
his  memory  yet  a  while  ;  for  hasn't  old  Bait  got  scent  of 
him  clean  off  in  the  Genesee  country?  and  aint  he  upon  his 
living  trail  by  this  time  with  the  friendly  Mohegan  that  I 
myself  heerd  tell  about  having  seen  Kit  with  his  own  eyes 
among  the  Oneidas  last  winter  ?" 

"What,  Bait  try  to  carry  his  scalp  safely  through  the 
Seneca  nation,  not  to  mention  the  Onondagoes  and  Cayu- 
gas,  through  all  of  which  he'll  have  to  run  the  gauntlet 
before  reaching  the  Genesee  ?  Pshaw,  man,  the  old  hunter 
is  as  cold  as  my  spurs  long  before  this." 

Though  the  reckless  trooper  spoke  thus  only  for  the 
sake  of  teasing  his  comrade,  yet  the  partisan  corporal  was 
familiar  enough  with  the  dangers  of  the  wilderness  not  to 
fear  that  what  Wiley  said  was  true.  But,  as  if  to  shake 
off  the  ungrateful  conviction,  he  emptied  his  beaker  at  a 
draught,  shook  his  "head,  and  was  silent,  while  another  of 
the  Yoegers  changed  the  subject  by  saying : 

"  Well,  well,  let's  have  Wiley's  song.  Come,  Wiley,  if 
it  must  be  the  last  time  we  have  a  bout  of  free  and  equal 
fellowship  like  this  together,  just  tune  up  something  we 
can  all  join  in." 

The  vocalist  began  to  clear  his  throat,  filled  a  bumper, 
threw  himself  back  in  his  chair,  and  had  got  more  than 
half  through  the  usual  preliminaries  with  which  most  pre 
tenders  to  connoisseurship  chill  and  deaden  the  impulsive 
flow  of  festive  feeling,  (in  instantaneous  sympathy  with 
which  their  song  should  burst  forth  if  they  mean  to  sing 
at  all,)  when  he  was  suddenly  superseded  in  his  vocation. 

"  Tavy,  my  light  lass  !     Tavy,  my  border  blossom  !" 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  373 

cried  the  gay  voice  of  De  Roos  without ;  and  then,  as 
entering  the  room  from  one  door,  while  the  girl  peeped 
shyly  in  from  the  other :  "  Come  hither — hither,  my  flow 
ering  graft  of  a  thorny  crab ;  come  hither,  my  peeping 
fawn,  and  learn  news  of  the  kind  old  forester  who 
has  always  played  the  godfather  to  you.  They  have  suc 
ceeded,  boys.  Kit  Lansingh  lives  and  thrives.  Here's  a 
messenger  from  Fort  Dayton,  bringing  the  news  from 
Bait  himself,  now  at  that  post.  Carry  on,  carry  on,  and 
tell  us  your  tidings  ;  but  hold,  the  poor  fellow's  athirst, 
perhaps.  Wash  the  dust  from  his  mouth  with  a  cup  of 
apple-jack,  Adam,  and  then  he'll  speak." 

The  countryman,  who,  entering  the  room  at  the  heels 
of  De  Roos,  had  cast  a  wistful  eye  upon  the  table  from 
the  first,  advanced  without  saying  a  word,  and  tossed  off 
the  liquor  which  the  corporal  filled  out  for  him,  smacked 
his  lips,  wiped  his  mouth  with  his  coat-sleeve,  and  thus 
delivered  himself: 

"  All  I  have  to  say,  gentlemen,  is  nothing  more  or  less 
than  what  I  was  telling  the  capting  here  when  he  broke 
away  from  me  like  mad  at  the  stable  door ;  where,  who 
should  I  first  happen  upon  but  the  capting  when  I  went  to 
put  up  my  pony,  before  looking  round  for  him  here.  *  Is 
there  anything  astir  among  the  people  ?'  says  the  capting, 
says  he,  when  I  delivered  him  that  note  from  Colonel 
Weston,  which  he  holds  in  his  hand,  and  which,  if  I  don't 
make  too  bold,  is  an  order " 

"  Yes,  yes,  an  order  for  me  to  move  forward  to-night. 
Carry  on,  man,  carry  on  with  your  story,"  cried  the  im 
patient  De  Roos. 

"  Well,  as  I  was  saying,  '  Is  there  anything  astir?"  says 
the  capting,  says  he.  'Why,  to  be  sure  there  is,'  says  I; 


374  GREYSLAER; 


*  and  a  mighty  pretty  stir  it  is,  too,'  says  I.  '  Hasn't  old 
Bait  got  back  from  his  wild  tramp,  and  doesn't  he  bring 
the  best  of  news  for  us  in  times  as  ticklish  as  these?  I 
guess  he  does,  though,'  says  I.  '  There's  the  young  chief 
Teondetha  and  a  white  man  he  rescued  from  the  Cayugas, 
and  took  home  among  his  people  for  safety,  are  coming 
down  to  help  the  country,  with  three  hundred  Oneida  ri 
fles  at  their  backs,'  says  I ;  '  and  didn't  they  send  Bait  a 
short  cut  ahead  to  warn  our  people  not  to  move  upon 
Fort  Stanwix  until  they  could  have  time  to  crawl  safely 
round  the  enemy  and  join  old  Herkimer  at  the  German 
Flats  ?  To  be  sure  they  did,'  says  I ;  and  then  the  cap- 
ting,  what  does  he  do  but,  instead  of  hearing  me  out,  he 
ups  at  once  and  asks  me  the  name  of  the  white  man  as 
furiously  as  if  it  was  for  dear  life  he  spoke  ;  and  when  I 
told  him  it  was  Mr.  Christian  Lansingh,  the  likely  young 
nephew  of  old  Bait,  he  tore  away  from  me  as  if  I  had  the 
plague  ;  and  I — I  ups  and  follows  at  once  to  see  the  end 
of  his  doings  ;  and  there,  now,  gentlemen,  you  have  the 
hull  history  o'  the  matter,  so  I'll  jlst  put  another  drop  o' 
liquor  in  this  glass  and  drink  sarvice  to  all  on  ye,  not  for 
getting  that  right  snug  young  woman,  whose  color  has 
been  coming  and  going  like  all  natur  while  I  told  my 
story — meaning  no  offence  whatever,  miss." 

"  Offence  to  Tavy,  my  lad  !  no  one  suspects  you  of  that. 
There  are  mettlesome  chaps  enough  here  to  take  care  of 
her,"  said  a  soldier. 

"  Ay,"  echoed  another,  "  she  has  a  brother  in  every 
man  in  the  troop." 

"  And  she  shall  choose  a  husband  among  the  best  of  ye, 
when  the  wars  are  over,"  cried  De  Roos.  "  But  carry  on, 
men,  carry  on  ;  we  must  sound  for  the  saddle  in  twenty 


A     ROMANCE     OF     THE     MOHAWK.  375 

minutes;  and,  unless  you  would  leave  your  liquor  un- 
drunk,  carry  on,  carry  on." 

"Ay, ay,  fill  round  for  our  lust  toast,"  said  the  serjeant, 
rising:  "  War  and  woman — wassail  we've  had  enough  of 
to-night — war  and  woman — the  myrtle  and  steel/' 

"  The  myrtle  and  steel,"  echoed  a  dozen  voices.  "  Your 
song,  your  song  now,  Wiley." 

*'  War  and  woman — the  myrtle  and  steel,"  shouted  De 
Roos ;  and  then,  before  the  twice-foiled  lieutenant  could 
collect  his  wits  for  the  occasion,  the  spirit  of  the  wild  par 
tisan  broke  forth  in  the  song  with  which  we  close  this 
record  of  the  rangers'  revels. 

1. 

One  bumper  yet,  gallants,  at  parting, 

One  toast  ere  we  arm  for  the  fight ; 
Fill  around,  each  to  her  he  loves  dearest — 

Tis  the  last  he  may  pledge  her  !  to-night. 
Think  of  those  who  of  old  at  the  banquet 

Did  their  weapons  in  garlands  conceal, 
The  patriot  heroes  who  hallowed 

The  entwining  of  Myrtle  and  Steel ! 

Then  hey  for  the  Myrtle  and  Steel, 

Then  ho  for  the  Myrtle  and  Steel, 
Let  every  true  blade  that  e'er  loved  a  fair  maid, 

Fill  around  to  the  Myrtle  arid  Steel. 

2. 
'Tis  in  moments  like  this,  when  each  bosom 

With  its  highest-toned  feeling  is  warm, 
Like  the  music  that 's  said  from  the  ocean 

To  rise  in  the  gathering  storm, 
That  her  image  around  us  should  hover, 

Wlio.se  name,  though  our  lips  ne'er  reveal, 
We  may  breathe  through  the  foam  of  a  bumper, 

As  we  drink  to  the  Myrtle  and  Steel. 


376  GREYSLAEK; 


Then  hey  for  the  Myrtle  and  Steel, 
Then  ho  for  the  Myrtle  and  Steel, 
Let  every  true  blade  that  e'er  loved  a  fair  maid, 
Fill  around  to  the  Myrtle  and- Steel. 

3. 
Now  mount,  for  our  bugle  is  ringing 

To  marshal  the  host  for  the  fray, 
"Where  our  flag  to  the  firmament  springing 

Flames  over  the  battle  array : 
Yet  gallants — one  moment — remember, 

When  your  sabres  the  death-blow  would  deal, 
That  MERCY  wears  her  shape  who 's  cherished 

By  lads  of  the  Myrtle  and  Steel. 

Then  hey  for  the  Myrtle  and  Steel, 

Then  ho  for  the  Myrtle  and  Steel, 
Let  every  true  blade  that  e'er  loved  a  fair  maid, 

Fill  around  to  the  Myrtle  and  Steel. 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  377 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE    SOLDIER'S  RETURN. 


;'  Home  of  our  childhood !  how  affection  clings 
And  hovers  round  thee  with  her  seraph  wings ! 
Dearer  thy  hills,  though  clad  in  autumn  brown, 
Than  fairest  summits  which  the  cedars  crown  ; 
Oh  happy  he,  whose  early  love  unchanged, 
Hopes  undissolved,  and  friendship  unestranged, 
Tired  of  his  wanderings,  still  can  deign  to  see 
Love,  hopes,  and  friendship  centering  all  in  thee." 

HOLMES. 


IT  was  a  summer's  evening,  when  Max  Greyslaer,  re 
turning,  after  a  long  absence,  to  his  native  valley,  left  his 
tired  horse  at  the  adjacent  hamlet,  and  hurried  off  on  foot 
to  present  himself  at  the  Hawksnest.  The  sun  of  a  fiercer 
climate,  not  less  than  the  unhealthy  swamps  of  the  South, 
had  stolen  the  freshness  from  his  cheek ;  and  the  arduous 
campaign  in  which  he  had  lately  signalized  himself,  had 
left  more  than  one  impress  of  its  peril  upon  his  manly 
front.  But  the  heart  of  the  young  soldier  was  not  less 
buoyant  within  him  because  conscious  that  the  comeliness 
of  youth  had  passed  away  from  his  scarred  and  sallow 
features.  He  had  learned,  before  reaching  its  neighbor 
hood,  that  the  beloved  inmate  of  the  homestead  was  well ; 
and,  breathing  again  the  health-laden  airs  of  his  native 
17* 


378  GREYSLAER; 


north,  he  felt  an  elasticity  of  feeling  and  motion  such  as 
he  had  not  known  in  many  a  long  month  before.  The 
stern  realities  of  life  which  he  had  beheld,  not  less  than 
the  active  duties  in  which  he  had  shared,  had  long  since 
changed  Max  Greyslaer  from  a  dreaming  student  into  a 
practical-minded,  energetic  man  ;  but  his  whole  moral 
temperament  must  have  been  altered  completely,  if  the 
scene  which  now  lay  around,  and  the-  circumstances 
under  which  he  beheld  it,  had  not  called  back  some  of  the 
thoughtful  musings  of  earlier  days. 

The  atmosphere,  while  slowly  fading  into  the  gray  of 
evening,  was  still  rich  in  that  golden  hue  which  dyes  our 
harvest  landscape.  The  twilight  shadows  lay  broad  and 
still  upon  the  river  which  glided  tranquilly  between  its 
overhanging  thickets  ;  but,  while  those  on  the  further  side 
were  purpled  with  the  light  of  evening,  the  warm  hues  of 
lingering  sunset  still  played  upon  the  canopy  of  wild  vines 
which  imbowered  those  that  were  nearer,  touching  here 
and  there  the  top  of  a  tall  elm  with  a  still  ruddier  glow, 
and  bathing  the  stubble  field  on  some  distant  hill  in  a  flood 
of  yellow  light.  But,  lovely  and  peaceful  as  seemed  the 
scene,  there  was  something  of  sadness  in  the  deep  silence 
which  hung  over  it.  The  whistle  of  the  ploughboy,  the 
shout  of  the  herdsman,  the  voices  of  home-returning  boors 
loitering  by  the  roadside  to  chat  for  a  moment  together 
when  their  harvest-day's  work  was  over — none  of  these 
rustic  sounds  were  there.  The  near  approach  of  invasion 
had  summoned  the  defenders  of  the  soil  away  from  their 
native  fields,  and  the  region  around  was  almost  denuded 
of  its  male  inhabitants  ;  infirm  age  or  tender  youth  alone 
remaining  around  the  hearths  they  were  too  feeble  to 
protect.  The  deep  bay  of  a  house-dog  was  the  first  thing 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  379 

that  reminded  Greyslaer  that  some  sentinels  at  least  were 
not  wanting  to  watch  over  their  masterless  homesteads. 

The  young  officer,  fresh  from  the  animated  turmoil  of  a 
camp-life,  had  ridden  all  day  along  highways  bustling  with 
the  march  of  yeomanry  corps,  crowding  into  the  main 
route  from  a  hundred  farm-roads  and  by-paths,  all  hasten 
ing  toward  the  border,  and  the  air  of  desertion  in  the 
present  scene  could  not  but  strike  him  by  the  contrast. 
It  was  with  a  heart  less  light  and  a  step  less  free  than  they 
were  an  hour  before  that  he  now  wended  his  way  among 
the  shrubbery  in  approaching  the  door  of  the  Hawksnest. 
The  sound  of  music  came  from  an  open  window  in  the 
wing  which  was  nearest  to  him,  and  his  heart  thrilled  in 
recognition  of  the  voice  of  the  singer  as  he  paused  to  listen 
to  a  mournful  air  which  was  singularly  in  unison  with  his 
feelings  at  the  moment.  The  words,  which  were  Grey- 
slaer's  own,  had,  indeed,  no  allusion  to  his  own  story,  but 
they  had  been  thrown  off  in  one  of  those  melancholy 
moods  when  the  imprisoned  spirit  of  sadness  will  borrow 
any  guise  from  fancy  to  steal  out  from  the  heart ;  and 
coming  from  the  lips  they  did,  they  were  now  not  less 
apposite  to  the  passing  tone  of  his  mind  than  in  the  mo 
ment  they  were  written. 


i. 


We  parted  in  sadness,  but  spoke  not  of  parting ; 

We  talked  not  of  hopes  that  we  both  must  resign, 
I  saw  not  her  eyes,  and  but  one  teardrop  starting 

Fell  down  on  her  hand  as  it  trembled  in  mine : 
Each  felt  that  the  past  we  could  never  recover, 

Each  felt  that  the  future  no  hope  could  restore  ; 
She  shuddered  at  wringing  the  heart  of  her  lover, 

/  dared  not  to  say  I  must  meet  her  no  more. 


380  GREYSLAER; 


2. 

Long  years  have  gone  by,  and  the  springtime  smiles  ever, 

As  o'er  our  young  loves  it  first  smiled  in  their  birth. 
Long  years  have  gone  by,  yet  that  parting,  oh !  never 

Can  it  be  forgotten  by  either  on  earth. 
The  note  of  each  wild-bird  that  carols  toward  heaven, 

Must  tell  her  of  swift-winged  hopes  that  were  mine, 
"While  the  dew  that  steals  over  each  blossom  at  even, 

Tells  me  of  the  tear-drop  that  wept  their  decline. 

The  song  had  ceased,  but  Greyslaer,  before  it  was 
finished,  had  approached  near  enough  to  hear  the  sigh 
with  which  it  ended  ;  for  how  much  of  the  past  did  not 
that  single  sigh  repay  him,  even  if  his  long  account  of 
affection  had  not  been  already  balanced  by  the  true  heart 
that  breathed  it !  In  another  moment  Alida  was  folded 

to  his  bosom. 

ft  *  *  4  *  # 

"  My  own  Alida  was  hard  to  win,  but  most  truly  does 
she  wear.  Do  I  not  know  who  was  in  your  thoughts, 
beloved,  in  the  moment  that  my  rustling  footsteps  made 
you  rush  to  the  verandah  to  greet  me  ?" 

"I  heard  not  your  footsteps,  I  felt  your  presence,  dear 
est  Max  ;  yet  was  I  strangely  sad  in  the  instant  before 
you  came." 

"  And  I,  too,  Alida,  was  sad,  I  scarce  know  why,  save 
from  that  mysterious  sympathy  of  soul  with  soul  you 
have  almost  taught  me  to  believe  in.  But  now " 

"  Now  I  know  there  should  be  no  place  for  gloom,  yet 
why,  Max,  should  melancholy  thoughts  in  the  heart  of 
either  herald  a  moment  of  so  much  joy  to  both  ?" 

Max,  who  had  often  playfully  philosophized  with  her 
upon  the  tinge  of  superstition  with  which  the  highly  ima 
ginative  mind  of  Alida  was  imbued,  now  attempted  to 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  381 

smile  away  her  apprehensive  forebodings.  But  as  she 
knew,  in  anticipation,  that  he  was  on  his  way  to  the  seat 
of  war,  and  could  only  have  snatched  this  brief  interview 
in  passing  to  the  post  of  peril,  the  task  of  cheering  her 
spirits  was^a  difficult  one. 

"  Not,"  said  she,  rising  and  pacing  the  room,  while  her 
tall  figure  and  noble  air  seemed  to  gather  a  still  more 
queenly  expression  from  the  feelings  which  agitated  her, 
"  not  that  I  would  have  the  idle  fears  of  a  weak  woman 
dwell  one  moment  among  your  cares — for  your  mind, 
Max,  must  be  free  even  of  the  thought  of  me  when  you 
go  where  men  are  matched  in  war  or  counsel  against 
each  other — but  something  whispers  that  this  meeting, 
that  this  parting  is — is  what  your  own  words,  which  I 
sung  but  now,  may  in  spirit  be  prophetic  of." 

"Nay, nay,  Alida,"  said  Max,  smiling,  "that  foolish  song 
has  already  more  than  answered  its  purpose  in  serving  to 
while  away  a  lonely  moment  of  yours,  and  I  protest 
against  my  rhymes  being  perverted  to  such  dismal  uses. 
You  may  change  your  true  knight  into  a  faithful  trouba 
dour  or  humble  minstrel  of  your  household,  if  you  will  ; 
but  I  protest  against  your  making  him  play  the  musty  part 
of  old  'Thomas  the  Rhymer,' merely  because  he  has  once 
or  twice  offended  by  stringing  verses  together." 

<ci  Why  will  you  always  jest  so  when  I  feel  gravest  ?" 
said  Alida,  half  reproachfully,  as  she  placed  her  hand  in 
that  which  gently  drew  her  back  to  the  seat  which  she  had 
left  by  Greyslaer's  side. 

"  It  is  gravity  of  mood,  and  not  of  thought,  dearest,  that 
I  would  fain  banter  away ;  for  surely  my  Alida  would  not 
call  these  vain  and  idle  fancies  thoughts?  Why  should  1 
deal  daintily  with  things  so  troublous  of  her  peace  ?  Out 


382  GREYSLAER; 


upon  them  all,  I  say.  The  future  has  no  cloud  for  us,  save 
that  which  will  continue  to  hover  over  thousands  till  peace 
return  to  the  land  ;  why  should  we  study  to  appropriate 
more  than  our  proper  share  of  the  general  gloom  ?  As 
for  this  Barry  St.  Leger,"  said  Max,  with  increasing  ani 
mation,  "  St.  Leger  is  a  clever  fellow  to  have  pushed  his 
brigand  crew  thus  far  into  the  country;  but  gallant  Gan- 
sevoort  still  holds  him  stoutly  at  bay,  and  if  Herkimer  and 
his  militia  fail  to  bring  him  to  a  successful  account,  we  have 
fiery  Arnold  and  his  Continentals  already  on  the  march 
to  beat  up  his  quarters  and  drive  the  Tories  back  to 
Canada." 

As  the  young  soldier  spoke,  Alida  caught  a  momentary 
confidence  not  less  from  the  tone  of  his  voice  than  from 
the  look  of  his  eye.  The  proud  affection  with  which  she 
now  gazed  upon  the  manly  mien  of  her  lover  seemed  more 
akin  to  her  natural  character  than  did  the  anxiety  of  feel 
ing  which  again  resumed  its  influence  in  her  bosom  ;  an 
anxiety  which  continually,  throughout  the  evening,  lent  a 
shade  of  sadness  to  her  features,  and  which  Greyslaer, 
remembering  long  months  afterward,  had  but  too  much 
reason  to  think  proceeded  from  one  of  those  unaccounta 
ble  presentiments  of  approaching  evil  which  all  have  at 
some  time  known. 

Since  the  memorable  night  when  Greyslaer's 'providen 
tial  discovery  of  the  real  position  in  which  Alida  stood 
toward  Bradshawe  had  won  from  her  the  first  avowal  of 
her  regard,  this  painful  subject  had  been  rarely  alluded  to 
by  either  ;  nor,  closely  as  it  mingled  with  the  story  of  their 
loves,  will  it  seem  strange  that  a  matter  so  delicate  should 
be  avoided  by  both  in  an  interview  like  the  present. 

The  joy  of  their  first  meeting  had  banished  it  alike  from 


A    ROMANCE     OF     THE    MOHAWK.  383 

the  hearts  of  either ;  and  Alida,  as  the  painful  moment  of 
parting  grew  nigh,  could  not  bring  herself  to  add  to  her 
present  sorrows  by  recalling  those  which  seemed  all  but 
passed  away  entirely,  though  their  memory  still  existed  as 
a  latent  cause  of  disquiet  to  herself.  As  for  Max,  his 
spirits  seemed  to  have  imbibed  so  much  vigor  and  elasticity 
from  the  stirring  life  he  had  lately  led,  that  it  was  almost 
impossible  for  Alida  not  to  catch  a  share  of  the  confidence 
which  animated  him.  But  though  the  state  of  the  times 
and  the  duties  which  called  Greyslaer  to  the  field,  and 
which  might  still  for  a  longer  period  defer  their  union, 
seemed,  as  they  conversed  together,  the  only  difficulties 
that  obstructed  their  mutual  path  to  happiness,  there  was 
in  the  heart  of  Alida  a  vague  apprehension  of  impediments 
yet  undreamed  of  and  far  less  easy  to  be  surmounted. 

The  moments  of  their  brief  converse  were  sweet,  delic- 
iously  sweet  to  either ;  but  the  banquet  of  feeling  was  to 
Alida  like  the  maiden's  feast  of  the  Iroquois  legend.  Her 
bosom  was  the  haunted  lodge,  where  ever  and  anon  a  dim 
phantom  flitted  around  the  board,  and  withered,  with  his 
shadow,  the  fruits  and  flowers  which  graced  it. 

In  the  mean  time  there  was  one  little  circumstance, 
which,  calling  up  a  degree  of  thoughtfulness,  if  not  of  pain 
in  the  mincLof  Greyslaer,  would  alone  have  impaired  the 
full  luxury  of  the  present  hour.  Some  household  concerns 
had  called  Alida  for  a  few  minutes  from  the  room  in  which 
they  were  sitting,  and  Max,  to  amuse  himself  in  her  ab 
sence,  turned  over  a  portfolio  of  her  drawings  which 
chanced  to  be  lying  upon  a  table  near.  The  sketches 
were  chiefly  landscape  views  of  the  neighboring  scenery 
of  the  Mohawk,  which  is  so  rich  in  subjects  for  the  pencil; 
but  there  were  several  studies  of  the  head  of  a  child  inter- 


384  GREYS  LAER; 


spersed  among  the  rest,  which,  after  the  recurrence  of  the 
same  features  sketched  again  and  again  with  more  or  less 
freedom  and  lightness,  finally  arrested  the  earnest  gaze  of 
Max  as  he  viewed  them  at  last  in  a  finished  drawing, 
which  was  evidently  intended  for  a  portrait.  He  felt  cer 
tain  that  he  had  seen  the  face  of  that  young  boy  before, 
yet  when  or  where  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  remember. 
There  was  an  Indian  cast  in  the  physiognomy,  which  for 
a  moment  made  him  conceive  that  it  must  have  been  dur 
ing  his  captivity  among  the  Mohawks  that  he  had  seen 
the  child.  Yet,  though  a  close  observer  of  faces,  he  could 
recall  no  such  head  among  the  bright-eyed  urchins  he  had 
often  seen  at  play  around  his  wigwam. 

"  I  am  puzzling  myself,  Alida,"  said  he,  as  Miss  de 
Roos  returned  to  the  room,  "  to  remember  where  it  is 
that  I  have  seen  the  original  of  this  portrait ;  for  certain 
it  is,  the  style  of  the  features,  if  not  the  whole  head,  is 
perfectly  familiar  to  me ;"  and  Max,  shading  the  picture 
partly  with  his  hand,  looked  up  for  a  moment  as  Alida  ap 
proached  him  while  speaking.  "Good  heavens!" he  added, 
in  a  tone  of  surprise,  "  how  much  it  resembles  yourself  as 
the  light  now  falls  on  your  countenance." 

"Do  you  think  so?"  cried  Alida;  "that  is  certainly  very 
odd.  for  I  have  always  thought  that  poor  little  Guise  bore 
a  wonderful  resemblance  to  my  brother  Derrick,  notwith 
standing  his  straight  black  Indian  locks  are  so  different  from 
Dirk's  bright  curls.  Your  remark  confirms  the  truth  of 
the  likeness  I  discovered  between  them ;  for  Derrick  and 
I,  you  know,  were  always  thought  to  resemble  each 
other." 

"  And  who,  if  I  may  ask,"  rejoined  Greyslaer,  gravely, 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.          335 

"is  this  '  poor  little  Guise,'  who  is  so  familiar  a  subject  of 
interest  to  you  ?" 

''  Oh  !  I  should  have  told  you  before  of  our  little  pro 
tege,  but  my  thoughts  have  been  so  hurried  to-night,"  re 
plied  Alida,  blushing.  "  You  must  know,  then,  that  Der 
rick  takes  a  vast  interest  in  this  forlorn  little  captive,  who 
is  neither  more  nor  less  than  a  grandson  of  Joseph  Brant, 
that  was  left  behind  in  an  Indian  foray  when  Derrick's 
band  had  driven  back  or  dispersed  his  natural  protect 
ors." 

"What,  a  childlike  that  accompany  an  expedition  of 
warriors  across  the  border !  a  child  of  Isaac  Brant,  too ; 
for  he,  I  believe,  is  the  only  married  son  of  the  chief! 
Who  gave  you  this  account,  Alida  ?" 

"  Dear  Max,  you  look  grave  as  well  as  incredulous.  I 
tell  only  what  Derrick  imparted  to  me  when  he  brought 
that  friendless  boy  hither,  and  begged  me  to  assume  the 
charge  of  him  for  a  short  season.  I  conjured  my  brother 
to  return  him  to  his  people,  but  he  would  not  hear  of  it. 
He  only  answered  that,  as  the  boy  was  an  orphan  whose 
mother  had  perished  in  the  fray  in  which  her  child  was 
taken,  and  whose  father  was  off  fighting  on  another  part 
of  the  frontier,  it  was  a  mercy  to  keep  him  here.  I  saw 
Derrick  for  scarcely  an  hour  at  the  time  he  made  the  re 
quest.  He  came  galloping  across  the  lawn  with  the  child 
on  the  pommel  of  his  saddle  Before  him  ;  scarcely  entered 
the  house,  except  to  exchange  a  joke  or  two  with  the  old 
servants  who  crowded  around  him ;  took  Guise  with  him 
to  the  stable  to  look  at  the  horses,  and  then  hurried  off  to 
join  his  troop,  which,  he  said,  had  made  a  brief  halt  while 
passing  through  the  country  toward  Lake  George." 

"  And  has  he  given  you  no  further  particulars  since  ?" 


386  G-REYSLAER; 


"  Not  a  word.  He  has  written  once  or  twice,  inquir 
ing  how  I  liked  his  dusky  pet,  as  he  calls  him  ;  but  he 
says  not  a  word  of  his  ultimate  intentions  in  regard  to 
him.  It  was  only  the  other  day  that,  in  marching  through 
from  the  Upper  Hudson  toward  Fort  Stanwix,  he  paid 
me  a  visit ;  but  he  stopped  only  to  breakfast,  and  came 
as  suddenly  and  disappeared  almost  as  quickly  as  before  ; 
and  though  he  caressed  and  fondled  the  child  while  here, 
yet,  when  I  attempted  to  hold  some  sober  talk  with  him 
about  his  charge,  he  only  ran  on  in  his  old  rattling  man 
ner,  and  said  there  was  time  enough  to  think  of  this  when 
the  St.  Leger  business  was  over." 

"  Can  I  see  the  child  ?"  said  Greyslaer,  with  difficulty 
suppressing  an  exclamation  of  impatience  at  the  levity  of 
his  friend. 

"He  sleeps  now,  dear  Max.  He  has  been  ill  to-day, 
and  when  I  left  the  room  it  was  only  to  see  whether  or 
not  the  restlessness  of  my  little  patient  had  subsided  into 
slumber." 

"  Does  this  picture  bear  a  close  resemblance  to  his  fea 
tures  ?"  rejoined  Max,  taking  up  the  drawing  once  more 
from  the  table. 

"  I  cannot  say  that  ;  yet  I  have  tried  so  often,  for  my 
amusement,  to  take  them,  thut  I  ought  at  least  to  have 
partially  succeeded  in  my  last  effort.  The  wild,  winning 
little  creature  is  so  incessantly  in  motion,  though,  that  a 
far  more  skilful  hand  than  mine  might  be  foiled  in  the 
undertaking.  But,  Max,  if  you  really  feel  such  a  curiosity 
about  my  charge,  I  must  show  him  to  you  ;  wait  but  an 
instant  till  I  return." 

Alida,  taking  one  of  the  lights  from  the  table  as  she 
glided  out  of  the  room,  reappeared  with  it,  a  moment 


A     ROMANCE     OF     THE     MOHAWK.  387 

afterward,  in  her  hand.  "  Tread  lightly,  now,"  she  said, 
"  while  following  me,  for  he  still  sleeps  most  sweetly,  and 
I  would  not  have  him  disturbed  for  the  world." 

Greyslaer,  who  seemed  to  be  actuated  by  some  more 
serious  motive  than  mere  curiosity  for  holding  this  in 
quisition  over  the  sleeping  urchin,  followed  her  steps 
without  speaking.  Alida,  entering  the  dressing-room — 
into  which,  as  the  reader  nmy  remember,  the  eyes  of  her 
lover  had  once  before  penetrated— made  a  quick  step  or 
two  in  advance,  and  closed  the  door  leading  into  the 
chamber  beyond  ;  then  turning  round,  she  pointed  to  a 
little  cot-bedstead  which  seemed  to  have  been  tempora 
rily  placed  there  for  greater  convenience  in  attending 
upon  her  patient. 

Max  took  the  candle  from  her  hand,  and,  shading  the 
eyes  of  the  infant  sleeper  with  his  broad-leaved  beaver, 
bent  over,  as  if  in  close  scrutiny  of  its  placid  features  ; 
while  Alida,  touched  by  the  sympathizing  interest  which 
her  lover  displayed  in  her  charge,  and  dreaming  not  of 
the  cause  which  prompted  that  interest,  gazed  on  with  a 
countenance  beaming  with  sensibility.  At  first  the  deep 
sleep  in  which  the  child  was  plunged  left  nothing  but  the 
lovely  air  of  infantile  repose  in  its  expression  ;  but — 
whether  from  being  stirred  inwardly  by  dreams,  or  dis 
turbed  by  the  light  which  penetrated  its  fringed  lids  from 
without,  or  touched,  perhaps,  by  the  drooping  plume  with 
which  the  soldier  shaded  its  brow — it  soon  began  to 
move,  to  grasp  the  coverlet  in  its  tiny  lingers,  and, 
turning  over  petulantly  even  in  its  slumbers,  to  work  its 
features  into  something  more  of  meaning. 

It  was  a  child  of  the  most  tender  years  ;  but,  though 
scarcely  four  summers  could  have  passed  over  its  inno- 


388  GREYSLAER; 


cent  head,  the  lineaments  of  another,  less  pure  than  it, 
were  strongly  charactered  in  its  face.  Something  there 
was  of  Alida  there,  but  far  more  of  her  wild  and  almost 
lawless  brother.  There  seemed,  indeed,  what  might  be 
called  a  strong  family  resemblance  to  them  both  ;  but 
while  the  darker  hue  of  Alida's  hair  might  have  aided  in 
first  recalling  her  image  to  him  who  gazed  upon  the  sable 
locks  of  the  Indian  child,  yet  her  noble  brow  was  wanting 
beneath  them  ;  and  the  mouth,  which  earliest  shows  the 
natural  temper,  and  which  most  nearly  expresses  the 
habitual  passions  at  maturity — the  mouth  was  wholly 
that  of  her  wayward  and  reckless  brother.  The  fea 
tures  were  so  decidedly  European,  that  the  tawny  skin 
and  the  eyes,  which  were  closed  from  Greyslaer's  view, 
were  all,  he  thought,  that  could  proclaim  an  Indian  origin 
for  this  true  scion  of  the  Mohawk  chieftain's  line,  as  Der 
rick  had  represented  him  to  his  sister. 

"  It  is  the  mysterious  instinct  of  blood,  then,  as  well  as 
the  natural  promptings  of  her  sex's  kindness,  which  has 
elicited  Alida's  sympathy  for  this  wild  offshoot  of  her 
house.  But  she  should  have  a  more  considerate  pro 
tector  than  this  giddy  brother,  who,  even  in  assuming  the 
most  sacred  responsibility,  must  needs  risk  mixing  up  a 
sister's  name  with  his  own  wild  doings." 

"  You  do  not  tell  me  what  you  think  of  my  protege," 
said  Alida,  as  Greyslaer,  musing  thus,  was  silent  for  a 
moment  or  two  after  they  returned  to  the  sitting-room. 
"  I  declare  your  indifference  quite  piques  me.  You  have 
no  idea  of  the  interest  poor  forlorn  little  Guise  excited 
when  I  took  him  with  me  to  Albany  on  my  last  visit  to 
our  family  friends  there." 

Max  had  it  upon  his  tongue  to  ask  her  in  reply  if  she 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE     MOHAWK.  339 

thought  that  the  child  bore  any  resemblance  to  Isaac 
Brant,  its  reputed  father,  whom  Alida  must  have  seen  in 
former  years  ;  but,  at  once  remembering  how  closely  that 
individual  was  connected  with  Bradshawre's  misdeeds,  he 
stifled  the  question,  and,  passing  by  her  last  observation 
as  lightly  as  possible,  changed  the  subject  altogether. 
The  whole  matter,  however,  left  a  disagreeable  impres 
sion  upon  him,  and  he  was  provoked  at  the  importance  it 
assumed  in  his  thoughts,  when,  after  the  thrilling  emotions 
of  a  lover's  parting  had  passed  away,  it  recurred  again 
and  again  to  his  mind  during  his  long  walk  back  to  the 
inn  where  he  was  to  pass  the  night. 

The  dawn  of  the  next  morning  found  Greyslaer  again 
upon  the  road  toward  Fort  Dayton,  where  a  pleasurable 
meeting  writh  more  than  one  old  comrade  awaited  him, 
and  where  a  military  duty  devolved  upon  him  which, 
slight  in  its  character  as  it  first  appeared,  was  destined, 
in  its  fulfilment,  to  have  a  most  serious  bearing  upon  his 
own  happiness  and  that  of  Alida. 


390  GREYSLAER; 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE    CONSPIRATORS. 

"  Euphion.  It  now  remains 

To  scan  our  desperate  purpose.     Senators, 
Let  us  receive  your  views  in  this  emergence ; 
Only  remember,  moments  now  are  hours. 

Colons.     For  me,  I  hold  no  commerce  with  despair. 
Your  chances  of  success  are  multiplied ; 
Even  now,  while  they  expect  your  suppliant  suit, 
Pour  out  a  flood  of  war  upon  their  camp, 
And  crush  them  with  its  weight.     Meanwhile,  perhaps, 
The  imperial  forces  may  fresh  succor  bring." 

THE  reader  has  perhaps  gathered  from  the  interview 
between  Greyslaer  and  Alida  last  described,  that  the 
characters  of  both  had  undergone  no  slight  change  since 
the  period  when  they  were  first  introduced  into  our  story: 
that  Max,  as  the  successful  wooer  and  the  travelled  sol 
dier  who  had  seen  the  world,  was  a  somewhat  different 
being  from  the  visionary  student,  the  fond-drearning  and 
willow-wearing  lover,  whose  romantic  musings  have 
heretofore,  perhaps,  called  out,  at  times,  a  pitying  smile 
from  the  reader:  that  Alida,  the  once  haughty  empress 
of  his  heart,  whose  pride,  though  utterly  removed  from 
ordinary  selfishness,  had  still  a  species  of  self-idolatry  as 
its  basis,  had  been  not  less  affected  in  her  disposition  by 
the  softening  influences  of  love  and  sorrow,  and  that  pa- 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  391 

tient  realization  of  hope  deferred  which  tameth  alike  the 
heart  of  man  or  woman.  Yet  these  changes  were  merely 
those  which  time  and  circumstance  will  work  in  all  of 
us,  and  Max  and  Alida  were  still  the  same  in  every  essen 
tial  of  character. 

The  change  in  Greyslaer  was  one  that  all  men  more 
or  less  undergo  as  the  sobering  influence  of  riper  years 
steals  over  them,  and  their  minds  are  brought  more  in 
contact  with  the  practical  things  of  life  ;  when,  having 
tested  their  powers  in  the  world  of  action,  the  frame  of 
the  mind  becomes,  as  it  were,  more  closely  knit  and  sin 
ewy,  and  seeks  objects  to  grapple  with  more  substantial 
than  the  shadowy  creations  of  the  ideal  world  in  which 
erst  they  dwelt.  Now,  while  the  success  which  had 
hitherto  crowned  the  early  career  of  Max  Greyslaer  alike 
in  love  and  arms,  was  one  of  the  most  active  elements  in 
rapidly  effecting  this  change  from  wild,  visionary  youth, 
to  dignified,  consummate  manhood,  the  emotions  and  cares 
of  Alida  were  precisely  those  which  would  dash  the  Ama 
zonian  spirit  and  humble  the  arrogance  of  self-sustainment 
in  a  proud  and  beautiful  woman,  once  the  petted  inmate 
of  a  bright  and  happy  home,  and  intrenched  in  all  the 
advantages  that  family  and  station  could  confer. 

The  half-insane  idea  of  righting  in  person  the  wrongs 
which  she  had  received  at  the  hands  of  Bradshawe,  had 
been  long  since  dispelled  by  the  realization  of  more  irre 
mediable  sorrows  in  the  death  of  her  nearest  relations ; 
and  as  her  woman's  heart  awoke  for  the  first  time  to  the 
graces  of  woman's  tenderness,  and  her  spirit  grew  more 
and  more  feminine  as  it  learned  to  lean  upon  another,  she 
even  shuddered  at  remembering  the  strange  fantasy  of 
revenge  that  was  the  darling  dream  of  her  girlhood.  It 


392  GREYSLAER; 


is  true,  that  in  the  hour  of  her  betrothal  to  Greyslaer  she 
had  listened  with  the  kindling  delight  of  some  stern  hero 
ine  of  romantic  story  to  the  deep-breathed  vengeance  of 
her  lover  against  the  man  who  had  plotted  her  ruin.  But 
as  time  wore  on,  and  the  fulfilment  of  the  vow  grew  less 
probable  from  the  prolonged  exile  of  Bradshawe,  which 
might  ultimately  result  in  total  banishment  from  his  na 
tive  land ;  and  as  Max,  who  was  soon  afterward  called 
away  by  his  military  duties  to  a  distant  region,  grew 
more  and  more  dear  to  her  in  absence,  she  gradually 
learned  to  shrink  as  painfully  from  the  idea  of  a  deadly 
personal  encounter  between  him  and  Bradshawe,  as  she 
lately  had  from  her  own  unfeminine  dream  of  vengeance. 
Nor  had  the  views  of  Greyslaer,  though  affected  by 
different  causes  from  those  which  swayed  Alida,  altered 
less  in  this  respect.  Max,  though  his  well-ordered  mind 
was  in  the  main  governed  by  high  religious  principle, 
was  certainly  not  in  advance  of  those  opinions  of  his  day 
which  held  a  fairly-fought  duel  as  no  very  serious  offence 
against  Heaven;  and  indeed  he  had  betrayed,  upon  more 
than  one  occasion,  while  serving  with  the  hot-headed  spir 
its  of  the  South,  that  no  scruple  of  early  education  inter 
fered  to  prevent  him  from  calling  an  offender  to  account 
after  the  most  punctilious  fashion  of  the  times.  But,  since 
he  had  mingled  more  among  men  of  the  world,  he  had 
learned  enough  of  its  customs  to  know  that  Bradshawe 
was  rather  a  subject  for  the  punishment  of  the  criminal 
laws  than  for  the  chastisement  of  a  gentleman's  sword  ; 
and  that,  while  wiping  away  an  insult  with  blood  was  a 
venial  offence  according  to  the  fantastic  code  to  which,  as 
a  military  man,  he  was  now  subject,  to  spill  the  same 
blood  in  cutting  off  a  felon  was  unofficer-like  in  deed,  as 


A    ROMANCE    OF     THE    MOHAWK.          393 

it  was  unchristian-like  in  spirit  to  thirst  after  it.  These 
sentiments,  which  his  camp  associations  had  gradually, 
and  almost  unknowingly  to  himself,  infused  into  the  young 
soldier,  were  more  than  redeemed  from  trivial-minded- 
ness  by  those  more  extended  views  of  action  which,  grow 
ing  up  at  the  same  time  with  them,  merged  the  recollec 
tion  of  personal  grievances  in  the  public  wrongs,  to  whose 
redress  his  sword  was  already  devoted. 

The  scenes  he  was  now  about  revisiting  served  to  re 
call  the  distempered  counsels  of  former  times :  when, 
after  his  betrothal  to  Alida,  he  had  meditated  throwing 
up  his  commission,  and  dogging  Bradshawe  with  the  foot 
steps  of  an  avenger  until  the  death  of  one  of  them  were 
wrought;  and  when  his  being  ordered  unexpectedly  upon 
dangerous  duty  to  a  remote  district  happily  interposed 
the  point  of  honor  as  a  stay  to  such  mad  procedure.  But 
these  scenes,  with  their  attendant  associations,  revived  no 
feeling  in  Max's  bosom  nearer  akin  to  personal  hostility 
toward  Bradshawe  than  any  earnest  and  honest  mind 
might  entertain  toward  a  low-lived  and  desperate  adven 
turer,  whose  mischievous  career  would  be  shortened  with 
benefit  to  the  community.  If,  then,  either  the  fortune  of 
war  or  a  higher  Providence  should  seem  at  any  time  to 
single  him  out  as  the  appointed  instrument  of  Bradshawe's 
punishment,  let  it  bring  no  reproach  to  the  chivalrous 
nature  of  Greyslaer  if  he  should  fulfil  his  stern  office  with 
the  methodical  coldness  of  the  mere  soldier. 

The  order  which  Captain  de  Roos  had  received  to 
hurry  forward  with  his  comrades  was  prompted  by  intel 
ligence  which  had  been  received  at  Fort  Dayton  of  a 
secret  movement  among  the  disaffected  in  the  neighbor 
hood.  The  rapid  advance  of  Barry  St.  Leger  into  the 
18 


GBEYSLAER; 


Valley  of  the  Mohawk,  together  with  his  formidable  in 
vestiture  of  Fort  Stanwix,  while  far  and  wide  it  called  out 
the  valor  and  activity  of  the  patriots  to  resist  the  invasion, 
was  viewed  with  very  opposite  feelings  by  the  remains 
of  the  royalist  party  which  were  still  scattered  here  and 
there  throughout  Tryon  county.  These  disaffected  fami 
lies,  taught,  by  the  events  which  followed  Schuyler's 
march  upon  Johnstown  in  the  earlier  days  of  the  war, 
that  their  lives  were  held  by  rather  a  precarious  tenure, 
and  that  both  their  property  and  their  personal  safety  de 
pended  upon  their  abstaining  from  all  political  agitation, 
hesitated  long  to  venture  upon  any  new  overt  acts  of 
treason. 

The  Johnsons  and  their  refugee  adherents,  however, 
had  not,  in  the  mean  time,  been  idle  in  scattering  the 
proclamations  of  the  British  ministry,  and  attempting,  by 
every  means  in  their  power,  to  keep  up  an  intimate  con 
nection  with  their  political  friends  who  were  within  the 
American  lines.  The  provincial  government  was  fully 
aware  of  the  existence  of  these  intrigues,  which  were  so 
daringly  set  on  foot  and  indefatigably  followed  up  by  the 
Tories  ;  and  a  military  force,  consisting  of  the  first  New 
York  regiment  and  other  troops,  had  at  an  early  day  been 
posted  at  Fort  Dayton  on  the  Mohawk,  in  order  to  over 
awe  the  loyalists,  and  prevent  any  sudden  rising  among 
them. 

So  bold  a  Tory  as  Walter  Bradshawe,  however,  was 
not  to  be  paralyzed  in  his  plans  by  such  impediments  to 
their  success.  His  emissary,  Valtmeyer,  whom  we  have 
Already  recognized  under  his  disguise  at  the  roadside  inn, 
had  appeared  among  his  old  haunts  on  the  very  day  that 
St.  Leger  sat  down  before  Fort  Stanwix ;  and,  bv  the 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  395 

aid  of  letters  and  vouchers  both  from  Bradshawe  and  his 
superiors,  had  successfully  busied  himself  in  leaguing  the 
Tories  together  for  sudden  and  concerted  action.  But, 
before  openly  committing  themselves  in  arms,  it  was 
deemed  necessary  that  a  meeting  should  be  held  at  the 
house  of  one  of  their  number  for  the  purposes  of  general 
consultation. 

Within  a  few  miles  of  Fort  Dayton  resided  a  Mr.  Schoon- 
macker,  a  disaffected  gentleman,  who,  previously  to  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war,  had  been  in  his  majesty's  com 
mission  of  the  peace.  This  individual,  a  man  of  extensive 
means  and  influential  connections,  had  of  late  exerted 
himself  effectually  in  rekindling  the  spirits  and  hopes  of 
his  party  in  the  neighborhood.  The  address  with  which 
he  managed  his  intrigues  for  a  long  time  preserved  him 
from  all  suspicion  of  taking  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of 
the  times,  though  his  political  tenets  were  well  known  in 
the  country  round.  Grown  rash  by  long  impunity,  how 
ever,  or  rather,  perhaps,  incited  by  the  blustering  procla 
mations  with  which  St.  Leger  flooded  the  country  to  give 
confidence  to  the  king's  friends,  Schoonmacker  now  ven 
tured  to  commit  himself  completely  by  offering  his  house 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  clandestine  meeting.  His 
generous  zeal  was  warmly  praised  by  the  loyalists,  al 
ready  in  arms  under  St.  Leger ;  and  their  commander 
promised  that  an  officer  of  the  crown  should  be  present 
at  the  assemblage  to  represent  his  own  views,  and  aid 
and  encourage  Schoonmacker's  friends  in  their  under 
taking.  Walter  Bradshawe,  who  was  now  in  command 
of  one  of  the  companies  of  refugees  enrolled  with  the 
forces  that  beleaguered  Fort  Stanwix,  eagerly  volunteered 
upon  this  perilous  agency,  stipulating  only  that,  n  small 


396  GREYSLAER; 


detachment  should  accompany  him  to  the  place  of  ren 
dezvous,  in  order  to  cut  his  way  back  to  the  besieging 
army  in  case  the  projected  rising  should  prove  a  failure. 

Taking  with  him  a  dozen  soldiers  and  the  like  number 
of  Indians,  the  Tory  captain  withdrew  from  the  lines  of 
Fort  Stanwix  and  approached  the  rendezvous  of  the  con 
spirators  upon  the  appointed  evening.  His  white  follow 
ers,  though  they  had  been  mustered  in  St.  Leger's  army 
as  regular  soldiers,  consisted  chiefly  of  those  wild  border 
characters  who,  throughout  the  war,  seem  to  have  fought 
indifferently  upon  either  side,  as  the  hope  of  booty  or  the 
dictates  of  private  vengeance  prompted  them  to  adopt  a 
part  in  the  quarrel.  One  of  these  last,  a  man  whose  pow 
erful  frame  seemed  of  yet  more  gigantic  proportions,  clad 
as  he  was  in  the  loose  hunting-shirt  of  the  border,  arid 
armed  to  the  teeth  with  knife  and  tomahawk,  two  brace 
of  pistols,  and  a  double-barrelled  fusee,  presented  the  ap 
pearance  of  a  walking  armory  as  he  strode  along  in  ear 
nest  conversation  with  his  leader. 

"  Well,  Valtmeyer,"said  Bradshawe,as  they  approached 
their  destination,  "I  do  not  order  you  upon  this  duty, 
which  I  think  one  of  my  light-armed  Indians  could  perform 
better,  perhaps,  than  yourself;  but,  if  you  choose  to  recon 
noitre  the  fort  while  we  are  engaged  in  counsel,  you  have 
full  liberty  to  do  so,  only " 

But,  before  he  could  add  the  precautions  he  was  about 
to  utter,  Valtmeyer,  simply  exclaiming — "  Enough  !"  turn 
ed  shortly  into  an  adjacent  thicket,  where  the  sound  of 
his  footsteps  upon  the  rustling  leaves  was  soon  lost  to  the 
ear  of  his  officer. 

Though  the  hour  was  late,  yet  the  party  collected  at 
Schoonmacker's  were  still  seated  at.  table  when  Brad- 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  397 

shawe,  having  stationed  his  sentries,  prepared  to  join 
them.  The  carousing  royalists  had  evidently  drunk  deep 
during  the  evening.  The  health  of  "The  King"  was 
pledged  again  and  again ;  and  their  favorite  toast  of 
"Confusion  to  the  Rebels"  was  floating  upon  a  bumper 
near  each  one's  lips  when  Bradshawe  entered  the  apart 
ment. 

"You  are  loud  in  your  mirth,  gentlemen,"  cried  the 
Tory  officer,  returning  their  vociferous  greeting  with  some 
sternness,  and  impatiently  waving  from  him  the  glass  that 
was  eagerly  proffered  by  more  than  one  of  the  conspira 
tors.  "Do  I  see  all  of  our  friends,  Mr.  Schoonmacker,  or 
have  these  loyal  gentlemen  brought  some  retainers  with 
them  ?"  added  Bradshawe,  with  more  blandness,  bowing 
at  the  same  time  politely  to  three  or  four  of  the  company, 
as  he  recognized  them  individually  either  as  influential 
characters  well  known  in  the  county,  or  as  old  personal 
acquaintances  of  his  own.  "I  was  told,  Major  MacDon- 
ald,"  continued  he,  turning  to  a  noble-looking,  gray-headed 
man  of  fifty,  "  I  was  told  that  you,  at  least,  could  bring 
some  twenty-five  or  thirty  of  your  friends  and  dependants 
to  strengthen  our  battalion  of  Royal  Rangers." 

"Twenty-six,  sir,  is  the  number  of  followers  which  I 
have  promised  to  add  to  the  royal  levies ;  but,  in  lending 
my  poor  means  to  aid  the  cause  of  the  king,  I  was  not 
aware  that  my  recruits  were  to  be  mustered  under  the 
command  of  a  stranger ;  nor  did  I  understand  from  Gene 
ral  St.  Leger  that  we  were  to  serve  in  the  Rangers. 
There  are  certain  forms,  young  sir,  to  be  observed  in  such 
proceedings  as  those  in  which  we  are  engaged ;  and  it 
may  be  well  for  you  to  produce  certain  missives,  with 


398  GREYSLAER; 


which  you  are  doubtless  furnished,  before  we  proceed 
directly  to  business." 

Bradshawe — who,  by  the  way,  was  hardly  of  an  age  to 
be  addressed  as  "  young  sir  "  without  some  offence  to  his 
dignity — bit  his  lip  while  observing  the  coolness  with 
which  the  worthy  major  knocked  the  ashes  from  his  segar 
while  tranquilly  thus  delivering  himself.  He,  however, 
repressed  the  insolent  language  which  rose  to  his  lips  in 
reply,  and,  placing  his  hand  in  his  bosom,  contented  him 
self  with  flinging  contemptuously  upon  the  table  a  bundle 
of  papers  which  he  drew  forth,  exclaiming,  at  the  same 
time, 

"  You  will  find  there  my  warrant,  gentlemen,  for  busy 
ing  myself  in  these  matters." 

As  he  spoke  he  threw  himself  into  a  chair  and  poured 
out  a  glass  of  wine,  with  whose  hue  and  flavor  he  tried 
to  occupy  his  attention  for  the  moment ;  but  he  could  not 
conceal  that  he  was  somewhat  nettled  by  the  coolness 
with  which  the  veteran  turned  over  and  examined  the 
documents  one  after  another,  passing  the  captain's  com 
mission  of  Bradshawe,  with  the  other  papers,  successively 
to  those  who  sat  near  him.  Bradshawe  moved  uneasily 
in  his  chair  as  this  examination,  which  seemed  to  be  need 
lessly  minute  and  protracted,  was  going  forward  ;  and  it 
is  impossible  to  say  what  might  have  been  the  result  of  so 
severely  testing  the  patience  of  his  restless  and  overbear 
ing  spirit,  if  the  phlegmatic  investigation  of  the  worthy 
major  had  not  been  interrupted  by  a  noisy  burst  of  merri 
ment  from  another  part  of  the  house,  which  instantly 
called  the  partisan  captain  to  his  feet. 

"  For  God's  sake,  Mr.  Schoonmacker,  what  means  this 
revelry  ?  Do  those  sounds  come  from  the  rebels,  who  lie 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THPJ     MOHAWK.  399 


near  enough  and  in  sufficient  force  to  crush  us  in  a  mo 
ment,  or  is  it  our  own  friends  who  play  the  conspirator 
after  such  a  fashion  ?  Who  the  dev " 

"  Your  zeal  is  too  violent — pardon  me,  my  worthy 
friend,''  interrupted  the  amiable  host.  "  The  revellers  you 
hear  are  only  the  good  country  people  whom  our  friends 
have  brought  with  them  to  honor  my  poor  house,  and  who 
are  making  themselves  a  little  merry  over  a  barrel  of  ci 
der  in  the  kitchen.  We  could  not,  you  know,  Mr.  Brad- 
sliawe,"  he  added,  in  an  insinuating,  deprecatory  tone,  as 
the  other  raised  his  eyebrows  with  a  look  of  utipleased 
surprise,  "  we  could  not  but  give  them  the  means  of  drink 
ing  the  health  of  the  king,  and  all  are  so  well  armed  that 
we  dread  no  surprise  from  Colonel  Weston." 

A  shade  of  chagrin  and  vexation  passed  over  the 
haughty  features  of  Bradshawe  as  he  compared  in  "his  mind 
more  than  one  orderly  and  stern  assemblage  of  the  Whigs, 
to  which  he  had  managed  to  gain  access,  with  the  carous-1 
ing  crew  with  whom  he  had  now  to  deal.  "  The  fools, 
too  !"  he  muttered,  "  sending  my  countrymen  to  drink 
with  their  servants  !  Do  they  think  that  is  the  way  to 
confirm  the  loyalty  of  American  yeomen?"  Then  ad-' 

99  V 

dressing  himself  to  the  company  with  that  urbane  and 
candid  air  which  he  knew  so  well  how  to  assume,  and  by 
which  he  had  often  profited  when  before  a  jury  in  other 
days,  he  said,  "  I  was  too  hasty,  gentlemen  ;  but  I  was 
afraid,  from  the  noise  I  heard,  that  a  body  of  Indians  that 
I  have  brought  with  me  had  in  some  way  got  access  to 
liquor ;  and,  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  so  dangerous  a 
circumstance,  I  think  we  had  better  at  once  call  our 
friends  together,  and  let  the  proclamation  of  General  St. 
Leger,  with  the  accompanying  letter  from  Sir  John  John- 


400  GEETSLAEB; 


son,  both  of  which  lie  before  you,  be  read  aloud  for  the 
benefit  of  all." 

The  suggestion,  which  could  not  but  have  weight  with 
all  parties,  was  instantly  adopted.  A  meeting  was  soon 
organized  by  calling  Major  MacDonald  to  the  chair,  and 
appointing  Mr.  Schoonmacker  secretary  ;  and  the  more 
humble  adherents  of  the  royal  cause  being  summoned 
from  the  other  parts  of  the  house,  the  proclamation  and 
letter  were  duly  read  by  the  latter. 

The  appeal  of  Sir  John  to  the  timid  and  disaffected  in 
habitants  of  Tryon  county  to  follow  his  example,  and, 
abandoning  their  present  neutral  position,  take  up  arms 
for  their  lawful  sovereign,  was  received  with  warm  ap 
probation.  Nor  was  there  less  enthusiasm  upon  hearing 
the  proclamation  from  St.  Leger  read,  inviting  all  true 
subjects  of  the  king,  and  all  violaters  of  the  laws,  who 
hoped  pardon  for  past  offences  from  his  majesty's  good 
ness,  to  come  and  enroll  themselves  with  his  army  now 
before  Fort  Stanwix.  Bradshawe  then  moved  a  resolu 
tion,  beginning  with  the  customary  preamble :  "  At  a 
meeting  of  the  loyal  gentry  and  yeomanry  of  Tryon  coun 
ty,  convened,"  &c.,  and  by  way  of  clinching  matters  while 
they  seemed  in  such  capital  train,  he  mounted  a  chair  and 
commenced  haranguing  the  assemblage,  urging  the  im 
portance  of  immediate  action  in  the  cause  to  which  every 
man  present  had  now  fully  committed  himself. 

His  adroit,  and  withal,  impassioned  eloquence,  was  ad 
dressed  chiefly  to  the  common  people  ;  and  the  generous 
boldness  with  which  he  committed  his  and  their  property 
to  the  chances  of  a  civil  war,  in  which  either  had  but  lit 
tle  or  nothing  to  lose,  elicited  their  rapturous  admiration  ; 
particularly  when  he  set  forth,  in  glowing  terms,  how 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  4Q1 

much  they  were  to  expect  from  the  exhaustless  bounty  of 
their  sovereign.  In  the  midst  of  his  harangue,  however, 
and  while  all  parties  were  warmed  up  to  the  highest  pitch 
of  loyal  enthusiasm,  he  met  with  an  interruption,  the  cause 
of  which  may  be  best  explained  by  looking  back  a  few 
pages  in  our  narrative. 


1ft* 


402  GREYSLAER; 


CHAPTER    IV. 


THE     SPY. 


"  On  him  did  passion  fasten,  not  to  roam, 
And  love  and  hate  alike  might  find  a  home ; 
And  burning,  bounding,  did  their  currents  flow 
From  the  deep  fountain  of  the  heart  below. 
Many  a  year  had  darkly  flown 
Since  passion  made  this  heart  its  own  ; 
Fit  dwelling  for  the  scorpion 
Revenge,  to  breathe  and  riot  on ; 
Fit,  while  the  deep  and  deadly  sting 
Of  baffled  love  was  festering."  BROOKS. 


THE  outlaw  Valtmeyer,  after  parting  with  his  officer  in 
the  manner  already  described,  had  proceeded  at  once, 
agreeably  to  the  permission  he  had  obtained,  toward  Fort 
Dayton,  which  had  been  for  some  time  garrisoned  by  a 
battalion  of  Continental  troops  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Weston,  but  where  several  detachments  of  other 
corps  had  recently  taken  up  their  temporary  quarters. 
The  object  of  Valtmeyer  was  partly  to  reconnoitre  the 
out- works  of  the  fort  for  future  attack,  and  partly  to  spy 
out  any  movement  upon  the  part  of  Weston  and  his  peo 
ple  which  might  indicate  that  Bradshawe's  mission  in  the 
neighborhood  was  suspected,  and  give  him  and  his  friends 
timely  warning  of  the  danger. 

A  well-trained  Indian   warrior  would,  as  Bradshawe 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  403 

had  hinted,  have  better  performed  this  duty  than  the  wild 
borderer  to  whom  it  was  now  intrusted  ;  for  the  charac 
ter  of  Valtmeyer,  whose  vindictive  daring  and  brutal 
courage  has  made  his  name  terrible  in  the  tradition  of  this 
region,  was  even  less  suited  than  that  of  a  wild  Indian  to 
the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  a  regular  soldier.  The 
Indian  warrior,  though  he  insists  upon  encountering  his 
enemy  wholly  after  his  own  fashion,  is  still  amenable  to 
certain  rude  laws  of  discipline,  for  whose  observance  he 
may  be  relied  upon  ;  but  the  white  frontiersman  who  has 
led  the  life  of  a  free  hunter,  perhaps  of  all  other  men 
shrinks  most  from  every  form  of  military  subordination. 
And,  indeed,  Valtmeyer,  though  to  answer  his  own  selfish 
purposes,  he  had  so  often  been  a  mere  tool  in  the  hands  of 
Bradshawe,  already  regretted  having  taken  service  with 
the  Royal  Rangers,  and  consenting  to  act  under  the  com 
mand  of  any  person  save  that  of  Wolfert  Valtmeyer. 

Being  now  wholly  withdrawn  from  the  surveillance  of 
his  officer,  the  worthy  Wolfert,  somewhat  oblivious  of  his 
military  duties,  bethought  himself  how  he  could  turn  the 
occasion  to  the  best  account,  by  what  a  similar  combatant 
in  the  battle  of  Bennington  afterward  called  making  war 
on  his  own  hook.  In  other  words,  he  determined  to  amuse 
himself  for  an  hour  or  so  within  the  purlieus  of  Fort  Day 
ton,  by  carrying  off  or  slaying  some  of  the  sentinels  ;  a 
species  of  entertainment  in  which  he  thought  there  would 
be  no  difficulty  in  indulging  himself.  This  seizing  of  op 
posite  partisans,  and  holding  them  to  ransom,  was  always 
a  favorite  feat  with  Valtmeyer  and  his  compeer  Joe  Bet 
tys;  and  the  annals  of  the  period  make  it  of  so  common 
occurrence  in  the  province  of  New  York,  that  one  would 


404  GREYSLAER; 


almost  think  that  man-stealing  was  the  peculiar  forte  of  its 
inhabitants. 

Had  Wolfert,  in  approaching  the  fort,  got  his  eye  upon 
any  of  the  picket-guard,  he  might  very  possibly  have  suc 
cessfully  effected  his  purpose.  But,  ill-practised  as  he  was 
in  the  regulations  of  a  well-ordered  garrison,  the  adventur 
ous  hunter  had  not  the  least  idea  how  far  the  line  of  out 
posts  extended  ;  and,  like  many  a  cunning  person,  he  over 
reached  himself  while  trying  to  circumvent  others.  In  a 
word,  he  got  completely  within  the  line  of  defences,  with 
out  being  at  all  aware  of  their  position. 

With  the  stealthy  art  of  a  practised  deer-stalker,  he 
managed  to  creep,  alike  unobserved  by  others  and  him 
self  unobserving,  within  the  outer  line  of  pickets,  which 
was  posted  in  the  deep  shadow  of  a  wood,  to  a  thicket  of 
briers,  where  he  paused.  The  gleam  of  a  sentinel's 
musket  above  the  bushes  had  lured  him  thus  far,  and  he 
halted  to  see  if  the  sentinel  himself  were  now  visible.  It 
seemed  that  he  could  make  out  nothing  satisfactory  as  yet ; 
for  now,  throwing  himself  upon  his  chest,  he  continued 
lowly  to  advance,  crawling  through  the  long  grass  until 
he  gained  a  copse  of  dog- wood  and  sumach  bushes  within 
half  pistol-shot  of  his  victim.  The  soldier  was  now  fully 
displayed  to  view ;  Valtmeyer  could  see  his  very  buttons 
gleam  in  the  light  of  the  moon  as  the  planet  from  time  to 
time  shone  through  the  clouds  which  traversed  her  face. 
Another  moment,  and  the  seizure  was  fully  accomplished. 
The  brigand,  crumpling  his  worsted  sash  in  his  hands, 
leaped  upon  the  sentinel  just  as  he  was  turning  in  his 
monotonous  walk,  and  bore  him  to  the  ground,  while 
adroitly  gagging  his  mouth  before  he  could  utter  a  cry. 
"Pshaw!  what  a  cocksparrow !"  muttered  Wolfert, 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  405 

when,  having  dragged  his  captive  within  the  bushes,  he 
for  the  first  time  observed  that  it  was  but  a  stripling  re 
cruit  of  some  sixteen  or  eighteen  years.  "  I  must  carry 
away  with  me  something  better  than  a  boy." 

With  these  words  he  hastily  secured  the  lad  to  a  sapling 
by  the  aid  of  a  thong  which  he  cut  from  his  leather  hunt 
ing-shirt,  and  then  prepared  to  make  a  similar  onset  upon 
the  next  sentinel  in  the  same  line. 

This  man  had  paused  for  a  moment  at  the  end  of  his 
walk,  waiting  for  a  glimpse  of  moonlight  to  reveal  his 
comrade,  whom  he  had  missed  in  his  last  turn.  A  strag 
gling  beam  fell  at  last  upon  the  path  before  him,  and  the 
soldier,  resting  on  his  musket,  leaned  forward,  as  if  trying 
to  pierce  the  gloom.  The  side  of  his  person  was  turned 
toward  Valtmeyer,  and  his  head  only  partially  averted ; 
but  Wolfert  preferred  seizing  the  present  moment  rather 
than  to  wait  for  a  more  favorable  one,  which  might  not 
come.  Clasping  his  hands  above  his  head,  he  leaped  for 
ward  with  a  sudden  bound,  and  threw  them  like  a  noose 
over  the  neck  of  the  other,  slipping  them  down  below  the 
elbows,  which  were  thus  pinioned  to  the  side  of  his  pris 
oner,  whose  musket  dropped  from  his  hands. 

"  Wolfert  Valtmeyer,  by  the  Etarnal !"  ejaculated  the 
man,  instantly  recognizing  his  assailant  from  the  well- 
known  trick  which  they  had  often  practised  upon  each 
other  in  the  mock-wrestling  of  former  days. 

"  Exactly  the  man,  Bait ;  and  you  must  go  with  him." 

"Not  onless  he's  a  better  man  than  ever  I  proved  him," 
said  Bait,  struggling  in  the  brawny  arms  of  his  brother 
borderer,  who  held  him  at  such  disadvantage. 

"  Donder  und  blixem,  manny,  you  would  not  have  me 
kill  a  brother  hunter,  would  ye  ?"  growled  Valtmeyer* 


406  GREYSLAER; 

whose  voice  thickened  with  anger  as  he  felt  himself  com 
pelled  to  use  every  effort  to  maintain  his  grip. 

"  There's — no — brother — hood— atween — us — in — this 
— quar'l,"  panted  forth  the  stout-hearted  Bait,  without  an 
instant  relaxing  his  endeavor. 

"  Then  die  the  death  of  a  rebel  fool,"  muttered  the 
other,  hastily  drawing  his  knife,  and  raising  it  to  strike. 
The  blow,  as  driven  from  behind  by  so  powerful  a  hand, 
must  have  cut  short  the  biography  of  the  worthy  Bait,  had 
it  fairly  descended  into  the  neck  at  which  it  was  aimed. 
But  the  intent  of  the  Tory  desperado  was  foreseen  in  the 
very  instant  that  the  former  released  his  grip  with  one 
hand  in  order  to  draw  his  knife  with  the  other;  and  Bait, 
dropping  suddenly  upon  his  knees  as  Valtmeyer,  who  was 
full  a  head  taller  than  his  opponent,  threw  the  whole 
weight  of  his  body  into  the  blow,  the  gigantic  borderer 
was  pitched  completely  over  the  head  of  his  antagonist, 
and  measured  his  length  upon  the  sod.  The  clanging  of 
his  arms  as  he  fell  raised  an  instant  alarm  among  those 
whom  the  deep-breathed  threatenings  of  these  sturdy  foes 
had  not  before  aroused.  But  Valtmeyer  was  upon  his  feet 
before  Bait  or  the  other  sentinel,  who  rushed  to  the  spot, 
could  seize  him.  Indeed,  he  brought  the  former  to  the 
ground  with  a  pistol-shot,  stunning,  but  happily  not  wound 
ing  him,  as  he  himself  was  in  the  act  of  rising.  The  other 
sentinel,  who  ought  to  have  fired  upon  the  first  alarm, 
made  a  motion  to  charge  upon  him,  and  then  threw  away 
his  shot  by  firing  just  at  the  instant  when  Valtmeyer  par 
ried  the  thrust  of  the  bayonet  with  his  knife,  and,  of 
course,  simultaneously  averted  the  muzzle  of  the  gun  from 
his  body. 

While  this  was   passing,  the   guard   turned  out;  but 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  407 

though  Valtmeyer  received  their  fire  unharmed  as  he  rush 
ed  toward  the  wood,  he  escaped  one  danger  only  to  fall 
into  another.  Ignorant  of  the  existence  of  the  outer  line  of 
sentinels,  he  was  seized  by  the  picket-guard  in  the  moment 
that,  thinking  he  had  escaped  all  dangers,  he  relaxed  his 
efforts  to  make  good  his  advantage. 

The  prisoner  being  brought  before  Colonel  Weston,  that 
sagacious  officer  lost  no  time  in  a  fruitless  examination  of 
so  determined  a  fellow  taken  under  such  circumstances. 
The  redoubtable  Valtmeyer  was  well  known  to  him  by 
fame,  and  Bait  fully  established  his  identity.  Weston 
was  before  aware  that  the  noted  outlaw  had  taken  ser 
vice  with  one  of  the  different  corps  of  Butler's  Rangers, 
and  he  readily  conceived  that  he  had  been  but  now  acting 
as  the  scout  for  some  predatory  band  of  Tories.  Captain 
de  Roos,  who,  as  an  active  and  efficient  partisan  officer, 
had  been  summoned  to  the  fort  for  the  very  purpose  of 
scouring  the  country  for  such  offenders,  was  sent  off  with 
his  command  to  make  the  circuit  of  the  neighborhood, 
and  another  detachment  of  troops  was  instantly  despatch 
ed  to  the  suspected  house  of  Mr.  Schoonmacker.  The 
latter  duty  was  one  of  some  delicacy,  and  requiring  a  cool 
er  judgment  than  that  of  De  Roos;  and  Weston  selected 
Major  Greyslaer  as  the  officer  to  whom  it  might  best  be 
intrusted. 

De  Roos,  rashly  insisting  that  he  could  squeeze  some 
thing  out  of  the  sulky  villain,  was  permitted  to  take  Valt 
meyer  with  him  as  a  guide  to  the  whereabout  of  his 
friends  ;  and  Valtmeyer,  after  fooling  with  him  for  a  sea 
son,  and  leading  his  party  in  every  direction  but  the  right 
one,  finally  succeeded  in  saving  his  own  neck  from  the 


408  GREYSLAER; 


gallows  by  giving  them  the  slip  entirely.  The  expedition 
of  Greyslaer  had  a  different  issue. 

Ever  cool  and  steady  in  his  purposes  when  duty  called 
upon  him  to  collect  his  energies,  this  officer  advanced  with 
speed  and  secrecy  to  the  goal  he  had  in  view.  The 
grounds  around  Schoonmacker's  house  were  crossed,  and 
every  door  beset  by  a  party  of  armed  men  in  perfect 
quietness.  Bait — who  had  soon  recovered  from  the  stun 
ning  effects  of  the  pistol-shot  that  grazed  his  temple — 
availed  himself  of  the  lesson  in  soldier-craft  which  he  had 
just  received  from  his  brother  woodsman,  and  secured  the 
only  sentinel  that  was  upon  his  post.  The  temptation  of 
the  cider-barrel  in  the  kitchen  proved  too  strong  for  the 
Indians  and  their  newly-levied  white  comrades  to  permit 
of  their  keeping  a  better  watch.  The  house  was,  in  fact, 
fairly  surrounded  by  the  Whig  forces  before  a  sound  was 
heard  to  interrupt  the  harangue  which  Bradshawe  was 
perorating  within.  MacDonald  alone  sprang  from  his 
seat,  and,  darting  into  an  adjacent  closet,  made  his  escape 
through  an  open  window  in  the  moment  that  Greyslaer 
entered  the  room  with  a  file  of  bayonets. 

"  In  the  name  of  the  Continental  Congress,  I  claim  you 
all  as  my  prisoners,"  cried  Max,  advancing  to  the  table, 
and  with  great  presence  of  mind,  seizing  all  the  papers 
upon  it,  including  the  commission  of  Bradshawe. 

That  officer,  who  had  stood  for  the  moment  astonished 
at  the  scene,  now  made  a  fiery  movement  to  clutch  the 
papers  from  Greyslaer  as  the  latter  quietly  ran  his  eye 
over  their  superscription  ;  but  he  instantly  found  himself 
pinioned  by  two  sturdy  fellows  behind  him. 

"  See  that  you  secure  that  spy  effectually,  my  men." 

"  Spy,  sir  !"  cried  Bradshawe,  with  a  keen  look  of  anx- 


A    ROMANCE     OF    THE    MOHAWK. 


ious  inquiry,  while  he  vainly  tried  to  give  his  voice  the 
tone  of  indignant  disclaimer  to  the  imputed  character. 

"  Spy  was  the  word,  sir,"  answered  Max,  gravely  ; 
"  nnd,  unless  these  documents  speak  falsely,  as  such  you 
will  probably  suffer  by  dawn  to-morrow.  This  paper 
purports  to  be  the  commission  of  Walter  Bradshawe  as 
criptain  in  Butler's  regiment  of  Royal  Rangers  ;  and  the 
promised  promotion  in  this  note,  for  certain  service  to 
ho  rendered  this  very  night,  leaves  no  doubt  of  the  char 
acter  in  which  Cnptain  Bradshawe  has  introduced  himself 
into  an  enemy's  country.  Lansingh,  remove  your  pris 
oner  to  the  room  on  the  other  side  of  the  hall,  and  see 
that  he  be  \ve!l  guarded  !" 

It  is  astonishing  how  invariably  the  success  of  an  indi 
vidual,  whether  in  good  or  evil  undertakings,  affects  his 
character  with  the  vulgar  ;  a  term  which,  both  in  its 
conventional  as  well  as  its  primitive  sense,  includes, 
perhaps,  the  majority  of  mankind.  Certain  it  is,  that, 
in  this  instance,  the  very  associates  and  complotters  of 
the  prisoner,  who  but  an  hour  before  had  hailed  his 
appearance  among  them  with  such  cordial  greetings, 
now  slunk  from  his  side  as  if  he  had  been  a  convicted 
felon.  Indeed,  some  of  the  meaner  minds  present  even 
attempted  to  conciliate  the  successful  party  by  exhibiting 
the  strongest,  signs  of  personal  aversion  to  Bradshawe, 
and  of  coarse  gratification  at  the  mode  in  which  his 
career  seemed  suddenly  about  to  be  brought  to  a  close. 

These  miscreants  were  scattered  among  others  of  both 
parties  who  were  collected  in  the  hall  and  grouped 
around  the  open  door  of  the  apartment  in  which  Brad 
shawe,  guarded  by  a  couple  of  sentinels,  was  pacing  to 
and  fro.  And  while  Mr.  Schoonmacker  and  others  of  the 


410  GREYSLAER; 


leading  Tories  in  the  opposite  room  were  listening  in 
dignified  dejection  to  the  measures  which  Greyslaer 
stated,  in  the  most  courteous  terms,  it  was  his  painful 
duty  to  adopt  in  regard  to  them,  their  followers  were 
exchanging  tokens  of  recognition  with  old  neighbors  and 
former  comrades  of  the  opposite  party. 

"  Jim,  you've  done  the  darn  thing  agin  us  to-night,  and 
no  mistake,"  said  one.  "  But  if  the  Injuns  hadn't  got  as 
drunk  as  fiddlers,  you  couldn't  have  popped  in  upon  us  as 
you  did." 

The  Congress  soldier  made  no  reply  ;  but  the  de- 
mare  gravity  of  him  and  his  comrades  did  not  prevent 
others  of  the  Tory  militia  from  attempting  a  conversation 
with  them. 

"  Well,  Mat,"  said  a  second,  "  if  I'm  to  be  taken  by  the 
Whigs,  I'm  only  glad  that  you  happened  to  come  up  from 
the  fort  along  with  them  ;  for  you  are  just  the  man  to  say 
a  good  word  for  an  old  friend.  All  this  muss  is  of  Wat 
Bradshawe's  cooking." 

"  Yes,"  cried  a  third,  "the  friends  of  the  king  only  met 
to  drink  his  health  and  have  a  little  social  junketing 
together  ;  and  if  bully  Bradshawe  had  not  come  among 
us,  things  would  have  gone  off  as  quietly  as  possible. 
All  the  harm  I  wish  him  is,  that  he  may  get  paid  off  for 
his  old  scrapes  with  a  halter,  and  rid  the  country  of  such 
a  pest ;  there's  the  affair,  now,  of  old  De  Roos's  daughter, 
for  which  he  ought  to  have  swung  ei^rht  vears  since." 

o         o          •/ 

"  Eight  years  !"  rejoined  the  other.  "  No,  the  scrape 
you  speak  of  is  hardly  a  matter  of  six  years  by  gone. 
But  give  the  devil  his  due.  The  few  folks  that  knowed 
of  it  talked  hard  about  wild  Wat  for  his  share  in  that 
business.  But  things  could  not  have  gone  so  far,  after 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  4H 

all,  or  the  Rooses  would  never  have  refused  to  appear 
against  him,  much  less  would  the  gal  herself  have  reject 
ed  his  offer  when  he  wanted  to  make  an  honest  woman 
of  her." 

Bradshawe  betrayed  no  agitation  during  this  discus 
sion,  which  took  place  so  near  to  him  that,  though  the 
speakers  lowered  their  voices  somewhat,  it  must  have 
been  at  least  partially  overheard  by  himself  as  well  as  by 
others.  But  when  another  of  the  rustic  gossippers  point 
ed  significantly  toward  the  room  in  which  Major  Grey- 
slaer  was  engaged,  while  whispering  that  Miss  de  Roos 
had  now  "  a  real  truelove  of  her  own,  and  no  mistake," 
the  features  of  the  Tory  captain  writhed  with  an  expres 
sion  almost  fiendish. 

"  Yes  !  I  must  live,"  he  muttered  internally.  "  I  can 
not,  I  will  not  die.  I  have  too  many  stakes  yet  in  the 
game  of  life  to  have  the  cards  dashed  thus  suddenly  from 
my  hands.  My  scheme  of  existence  is  too  intimately  in 
terwoven  with  that  of  others  to  stop  here,  and  stop  singly. 
I  know,  I  feel  that  Alida's  fate  and  that  of  this  moonstruck 
boy  is  interwoven  with  mine.  /  only  can  redeem  her 
name,  or  blast  it  with  utter  infamy  ;  and  their  peace  or 
my  revenge — whichever  is  ultimately  to  triumph — were 
both  a  nullity  if  I  perish  now."  Alas!  Walter  Brad 
shawe,  dost  thou  think  that  Providence  hath  but  one 
mode  of  accomplishing  its  ends,  if  innocence  is  to  be  vin 
dicated,  and  that  only  through  so  foul  an  instrument  as 
thou  ! 

Thus  thought,  or  "  thought  he  thought,"  this  iron-heart 
ed  desperado.  But  there  were  other  distracting  feelings 
in  his  bosom  which  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  ano.lyze. 
Though  hatred  had  long  since  predominated  over  love 


412  GKEYSLAER, 


in  the  warring  passions  of  his  stormy  breast,  yet  that 
hatred  was  born  only  of  the  indignation  and  horror  with 
which  his  attempts  to  control  Alida's  inclinations  had 
been  received,  and  his  admiration  had  increased  from  the 
very  circumstances  which  chilled  his  love  ;  but  now  the 
subtle  workings  of  jealousy  infused  a  new  element  among 
his  conflicting  passions,  which  quickened  both  love  and 
hatred  into  a  more  poignant  existence. 

Few,  even  of  the  most  ignoble  natures,  are  wholly  base  ; 
and  Bradshawe,  though  he  could  not  imagine,  much  less 
realize,  one  generous  emotion  that  belongs  to  those  dis 
positions  which  the  world  terms  chivalrous,  still  possessed 
some  of  the  qualities  that  keep  a  man  from  becoming 
despicable  either  to  himself  or  to  others.  He  had  both 
bravery  and  ability,  and  he  knew  it.  Incapable  of  one 
magnanimous  thought,  in  deed  he  might  still  be  great  ! 
And  determined  in  purpose  as  he  was  loose  in  principle, 
he  believed  that  he  was  a  man  born  for  the  very  time 
and  country  in  which  his  lot  was  cast ;  for,  regarding  all 
others  as  senseless  zealots,  he  deemed  that  every  man  of 
abilities  engaged  in  the  present  political  struggle  was  an 
adventurer  like  himself,  having  his  own  selfish  views  as 
the  ultimate  objects  of  his  dangers  and  hia-toils. 

If  the  aspiring  aims,  then,  of  a  reckless  ambition,  backed 
by  no  ordinary  talent  and  courage  the  most  unflinching, 
can  redeem  from  ignominy  a  mind  otherwise  contracted, 
coarse,  and  selfish,  Bradshawe  may  be  enrolled  upon  the 
same  list  with  many  a  hero,  not  less  mean  of  soul,  whom 
the  world  has  consented  to  admire  ;  for  the  majority  of 
mankind  always  look  to  the  deeds  of  those  who  distin 
guish  themselves  beyond  the  herd,  without  much  regard 
to  the  feeling  which  actuated  or  the  moral  end  which 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  413 

those  deeds  were  intended  to  promote  ;  and  one  brilliant 
invading  campaign  of  Napoleon  is  more  dazzling  to  the 
mind  than  the  whole  military  career  of  HIM  who  fought 
only  to  preserve  his  country  !  whose  Heaven-directed 
arms  triumphed  ultimately  over  thousands  as  brave  as 
Walter  Bradshawe  in  the  field  ;  whose  godlike  counsels 
discomfited  thousands  more  gifted,  if  not  more  unprinci 
pled,  in  the  cabinet. 

But,  awarding  whatever  credit  we  may  to  Bradshawe 
for  his  aspirations  after  fame,  let  us  leave  him  now  to 
awaken  from  the  vague  dream  which,  almost  unknown  to 
himself,  had  at  times  passed  through  his  brain — the  dream 
of  sharing  his  future  renown  with  Alida  ;  and,  while  wip 
ing  ofF,  in  honorable  marriage,  the  reproach  which  he  had 
attached  to  her  name,  of  gratifying,  at  last,  the  passion 
which  was  rooted  in  his  heart.  Let  us  leave  the  search 
ing  pang  of  jealousy  to  reveal  to  him  first  the  existence  of 
this  lingering  touch  of  tenderness  amid  feelings  which  he 
himself  thought  had  become  only  those  of  hatred.  Let 
us  leave  him  with  that  utter  desolation  of  the  heart's  best 
earthly  hope,  which  would  prompt  most  men  to  welcome 
the  grave  upon  whose  brink  he  stood,  but  from  which  he, 
fired  with  a  burning  lust  of  vengeance,  shrunk  as  from  a 
dungeon  where  the  plotting  brain  and  relentless  hand  of 
malignity  would  lie  helpless  for  ever. 

How  little  they  read  the  man  who  deemed  that  terror 
of  his  fate  had  stupefied  him,  when,  obedient  to  the  order 
of  his  captor,  he  moved  off,  with  stolid  and  downcast  look, 
amid  the  guard  which  conducted  him  to  durance  at  the 
quarters  of  the  patriots. 


414  GREYSLAER; 


CHAPTER   V. 


THE    FIELD    OF    ORISKANY. 

. 

"  Strike — till  the  last  armed  foe  expires, 
Strike — for  your  altars  and  your  fires, 
Strike — for  the  green  graves  of  your  sires, 

God !  and  your  native  land  !" 

HALLECK. 

"  It  shouted  to  the  mountain  and  the  -wave, 
That  fetterless  were  left — the  wild  old  woods, 
And  the  free  dweller  there — to  winds  that  go 
And  wist  no  bidding.     'Twas  the  uncurbed  voice 
Of  Nature  calling  fiercely  for  her  own. 
It  was  the  beating  of  the  human  mind 
Against  the  battlements  of  power. 
Then  were  ye  marshalled  forth  !'' 

MRS.  E.  OAKES  SMITH. 

THE  doom  which  Greyslaer  had,  with  military  stern 
ness,  predicted,  was  formally,  by  a  military  court,  pro 
nounced  upon  Bradshawe  that  very  night ;  but  \vhen  the 
hour  of  execution  arrived  on  the  morrow,  events  were  at 
hand  which,  postponing  it  for  the  present,  gave  him,  in 
fact,  the  advantages  of  an  indefinite  reprieval. 

Some  Continental  officers,  of  a  rank  superior  to  tliat 
of  the  commandant,  who  arrived  at  Fort  Dayton  during 
the  night,  suggested  doubts  as  to  the  policy  of  thus  sum 
marily  executing  martial  law  upon  the  prisoner.  In  the 
morning  a  message  arrived  from  the  beleaguered  garri- 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  415 

son  of  Fort  Stanwix,  urging  the  Whig  forces  to  press  for 
ward  to  the  scene  of  action,  and  attempt  raising  the  siege 
at  once,  or  their  succor  would  come  too  late  to  save  their 
compatriots.  All  was  then  bustle  and  motion.  The 
greater  part  of  the  troops  at  once  hurried  forward  to  join 
Herkimer's  forces,  which  had  already  taken  up  their  line 
of  march  for  Oriskany,  while  a  detachment  was  sent  down 
the  river  to  speed  on  those  who  still  loitered  on  the  road 
to  the  border.  When  this  last  was  about  to  depart,  the 
opportunity  was  deemed  a  good  one  of  getting  rid  of 
Bradshawe,  by  sending  him  to  head-quarters  at  Albany, 
where  his  sentence  could  either  be  enforced  or  remitted, 
as  a  higher  military  authority  should  decide  ;  and  he  was 
accordingly  marched  off,  strictly  guarded  by  the  detach 
ment. 

Of  the  use  that  Walter  Bradshawe  made  of  this  reprieve 
to  carry  into  effect  his  meditated  vengeance  against  Alida 
and  her  lover,  we  shall  see  hereafter.  We  must  now  re 
turn  to  other  personages  of  our  story,  who  have  been,  per 
haps,  too  long  forgotten. 

It  has  been  already  incidentally  mentioned  that  Brant 
and  his  followers  were  playing  a  conspicuous  part  in  the 
bold  invasion  which  now  threatened  to  give  the  royal 
ists  possession  of  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  fair  province 
of  New  York,  if,  indeed,  they  should  not  succeed  in  over 
running  the  whole.  Brant,  who  had  brought  nearly  a 
thousand  Iroquois  warriors  to  the  standard  of  St.  Leger, 
was  indeed  the  very  soul  of  the  expedition ;  for,  if  there 
be  a  doubt  of  his  devising  the  scheme  itself,  he  certainly 
planned  some  of  its  most  important  details  ;  and  the  zeal 
with  which  he  executed  his  share  of  the  undertaking 
proved  how  thoroughly  hi*  heart  was  engaged  in  it.  The 


416  GREYSLAEB; 


Johnsons,  indeed,  had  come  back  to  struggle  once  more 
for  a  noble  patrimony  which  had  been  wrested  from  them, 
and  many  of  their  refugee  friends  were  animated  by  the 
hope  of  recovering  the  valuable  estates  they  had  forfeited  ; 
but  Brant  fought  to  recover  the  ancient  seats  of  his  peo 
ple,  whose  name  as  a  nation  was  in  danger  of  being  blot 
ted  out  from  the  land. 

When,  therefore,  he  learned,  through  his  scouts,  that 
Herkimer  was  approaching  by  forced  marches  to  break 
up  the  encampment  of  St.  Leger,  relieve  Fort  Stanwix, 
and  repel  the  advance  of  the  invaders  through  the  valley 
of  which  it  was  the  portal,  he  instantly  suggested  meas 
ures  for  his  discomfiture,  and  planned  that  masterly  am 
buscade  which  resulted  in  the  bloody  field  of  Oriskany. 

There  is,  within  a  few  miles  of  Fort  Stanwix,  a  deep 
hollow  or  ravine  which  intersects  the  forest  road  by  which 
Herkimer  and  his  brave  but  undisciplined  army  of  parti 
san  forces  were  approaching  to  St.  Leger's  lines.  The 
ravine  sweeps  toward  the  east  in  a  semicircular  form, 
either  horn  of  the  crescent  thus  formed  bearing  a  north 
ern  and  southern  direction,  and  inclosing  a  level  and 
elevated  piece  of  ground  upon  the  western  side.  The 
bottom  of  the  ravine  was  marshy,  and  the  road  crossed  it 
by  means  of  a  causeway.  This  was  the  spot  selected  by 
Brant  for  attacking  the  column  of  Herkimer ;  and  hither 
St.  Leger  had  sent  a  large  force  of  royalists  to  take  post 
with  his  Indians  on  the  morning  of  the  fatal  sixth  of  Au 
gust. 

The  white  troops,  consisting  of  detachments  from 
Claus's  and  Butler's  Rangers  and  Johnson's  Greens,  with 
a  battalion  of  Major  Watts's  Royal  New  Yorkers,  dis 
posed  themselves  in  the  form  of  a  semicircle,  with  a  swarm 


A    IIOMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  417 

of'  red  warriors  clustering  like  bees  upon  either  extremity  ; 
and  it  would  seem  as  if  nothing  could  save  Herkimer's 
column  from  annihilation,  should  it  once  push  fairly  within 
the  horns  of  the  crescent  thus  formed.  The  fortunes  of 
war,  however,  turn  upon  strange  incidents  ;  and  in  the 
present  instance,  the  very  circumstance  which  hurried 
hundreds  of  brave  men  among  the  patriots  upon  their  fate 
was  a  cause  of  preservation  to  their  comrades. 

The  veteran  General  Herkimer,  who  was  a  wary  and 
experienced  bush-fighter,  aware  of  the  character  of  this 
ground,  had  ordered  a  halt  when  within  a  few  hundred 
yards  of  the  spot  where  the  battle  was  ultimately  joined ; 
but  irritated  by  the  mutinous  remonstrances  of  some  of 
his  insubordinate  followers,  several  of  whom  flatly  charged 
the  stout  old  general  with  cowardice,  he  gave  the  order 
to  "march  on"  while  his  ranks  were  yet  in  confusion; 
and  eagerly  was  the  order  obeyed  by  the  rash  gathering 
of  border  yeomanry. 

•'  March  on,"  shouted  the  fiery  Cox  and  ill-fated  Eisen- 
lord.  "  March  on,"  thundered  the  herculanean  Gardinier 
and  Samson-like  Dillenback,  whose  puissant  deeds  at 
Oriskany  have  immortalized  their  names  in  border  story. 
"  March  on,"  echoed  the  patriotic  Billington  and  long- 
regretted  Paris,  and  many  another  brave  civilian  and 
gallant  gentleman,  whom  neither  rank,  nor  station,  nor 
want  of  skill  in  arms  had  prevented  from  volunteering 
upon  this  fatal  field — the  first  and  last  they  ever  saw  ! 
"  March  on,"  shouted  the  hot-headed  De  Roos,  catching 
up  the  cry  as  quickly  it  ran  from  rank  to  rank,  and  dash 
ing  wildlv  forward,  he  scarce  knew  where. 

o  •» 

And  already  the  foremost  files  had  descended  into  the 

in 


418  GREYSLAER; 


hollow,  and  others,  pressing  from  behind,  were  pouring  in 
a  living  tide  to  meet  the  opposing  shock  below. 

The  impatience  of  Brant's  warriors  did  not  allow  them 
to  wait  until  the  Whig  forces  had  all  descended  into  the 
ravine  ;  but,  raising  their  well-known  war-cry,  the  Mo 
hawks  poured  a  volley,  which  nearly  annihilated  half  of 
Herkimer's  foremost  division,  and  wholly  cut  off  the 
remainder  from  the  support  of  their  comrades.  Uprising 
then  among  the  bushes,  they  sprang  with  tomahawk  and 
javelin  upon  the  panic-stricken  corps,  already  broken  and 
borne  down  by  that  first  onslaught.  The  refugees  pushed 
forward  with  their  bayonets  to  share  in  the  massacre  of 
their  countrymen.  But  now  fresh  foes  were  rushing  upon 
them  in  turn.  Headstrong  and  impetuous  themselves,  or 
urged  on  by  the  fiery  masses  that  pressed  upon  them  from 
behind,  they  descended  like  an  avalanche  from  the  plain 
above,  and  filled  that  little  vale  with  carnage  and  destruc 
tion  ;  now  swooping  down  to  be  dispersed  in  death,  and 
now  bearing  with  them  a  resistless  force  that  hurled  hun 
dreds  who  opposed  it  into  eternity. 

The  leaders  of  both  parties  soon  began  to  see  that  this 
indiscriminate  melee  could  result  in  no  positive  advantage 
to  either,  while  involving  the  destruction  of  both  ;  and,  in 
a  momentary  pause  of  the  conflict,  the  voices  of  Herki 
mer's  officers  and  of  the  opposing  leaders  were  simultane 
ously  heard  calling  upon  their  men  to  betake  themselves 
to  the  bushes  and  form  anew  under  their  cover.  And 
now  the  fight  was  somewhat  changed  in  its  character. 
Major  Greyslaer,  seeing  the  causeway  partially  cleared 
of  its  struggling  combatants,  rallied  a  compact  band  of 
well-disciplined  followers,  and  charged  the  thickets  in  ad 
vance.  But.  the  throng  through  which  he  opened  a  pas- 


A     ROMANCE    OF     THE    MOHAWK.  419 

sage  closed  instantly  behind  him,  and  with  the  loss  of  half 
his  men,  he  was  obliged  to  cut  his  way  back  to  his  com 
rades,  where  the  chieftain  Teondetha,  with  his  Oneida 
rifles,  covered  the  shattered  band  till  Greyslaer  could  take 
new  order. 

The  Whig  yeomanry,  in  the  mean  time,  had  for  the 
most  part  taken  post  behind  the  adjacent  trees,  where  each 
man,  as  from  a  citadel  of  his  own,  made  war  upon  the 
enemy  by  keeping  up  an  incessant  firing.  But  Brant, 
whose  Indians  were  chiefly  galled  by  these  sharpshooters, 
gave  his  orders,  and  the  Mohawks,  wherever  they  saw 
the  flash  of  a  rifle,  would  rush  up,  and,  with  lance  or 
tomahawk,  despatch  the  marksman  before  he  could  gain 
time  to  reload.  Bait,  whose  unerring  rifle  had  already 
made  many  a  foernan  bite  the  dust,  had  ensconced  himself 
behind  a  shattered  oak,  a  little  in  advance  of  a  thicket  of 
birch  and  juniper,  from  which  Christian  Lansingh,  with 
others  of  Greyslaer's  followers,  kept  up  a  steady  fire,  and 
thus  covered  Bait's  position.  The  worthy  hunter  abso 
lutely  foamed  with  rage  when  he  saw  several  of  his 
acquaintance,  who  were  less  protected  than  himself,  thus 
falling  singly  beneath  the  murderous  tomahawks  of  Brant's 
people  ;  but  his  anger  received  a  new  turn  when  he  beheld 
Greyslaer  breaking  his  cover  and  rushing  with  clubbed 
rifle  after  one  of  the  retreating  Mohawks,  who  had  des 
patched  an  unfortunate  militia-man  within  a  few  paces  of 
him. 

"  Goody  Lordy  !"  he  exclaimed,  "  the  boy's  mad  !  He'll 
spoil  the  breaching  or  bend  the  bar'l  of  the  best  rifle  in 
the  county.  Tormented  lightning  !  though,  how  he's 
buried  the  brass  into  him." 

Greyslaer.  as  Bait  spoke,  drove  the  angular  metal  with 


420  GREYSLAER; 


which  the  stock  of  the  weapon  was  shod,  deep  into  the 
brain  of  the  flying  savage,  while  Bait  himself,  in  the  same 
moment,  brought  down  a  javelin  man  who  was  flying  to 
the  assistance  of  the  other. 

"  Aha  !  ain't  that  the  caper  on't,  you  pizen  copperhead ! 
Down,  major,  down,"  shouted  the  woodsman,  as  his  quick 
ear  caught  the  click  of  a  dozen  triggers  in  the  opposite 
thicket,  and  Max,  obedient  to  the  word,  threw  himself 
upon  his  face,  while  the  fire  of  a  whole  platoon  of  Tory 
rangers,  that  was  instantly  answered  by  a  volley  from  his 
own  men,  passed  harmlessly  over  him. 

The  dropping  shots  now  became  less  frequent,  for  the 
borderers  on  either  side  were  so  well  protected  by  wood 
land  cover,  that,  though  the  clothes  of  many  were  riddled 
with  bullets,  yet  the  grazing  of  an  elbow  or  some  slight 
flesh-wound  in  the  leg  was  all  the  execution  done  by  those 
who  were  as  practised  in  avoiding  exposure  to  the  aim  of 
an  enemy,  as  in  availing  themselves  with  unerring  quick 
ness  of  each  chance  of  planting  a  bullet. 

General  Herkimer,  who  had  already  seen  Greyslaer's 
spirited  effort  to  cut  his  way  through  the  enemy  with  a 
handful  of  men,  deemed  this  the  fitting  time  to  execute 
the  movement  upon  a  larger  scale.  The  fatal  causeway 
was  again  thronged  by  the  patriots  in  the  instant  they 
heard  the  voice  of  their  leader  exhorting  his  troops  to  force 
the  passage  in  which  their  bravest  had  already  fallen. 
But,  even  before  they  could  form,  and  in  the  moment  that 
those  closing  ranks  exposed  themselves,  a  murderous  fire 
was  poured  in  upon  them  on  every  side  ;  every  tree  and 
bush  seemed  to  branch  out  with  flame. 

Thrice,  with  desperate  valor,  did  Herkimer  cross  the 
causeway  and  charge  the  thronged  hillside  in  front ;  and 


A    ROMANCE     OF     THE    MOHAWK.  431 

thrice  the  files  who  rushed  into  the  places  of  the  fallen 
were  mowed  down  by  the  deadly  rifles  from  the  thickets, 
or  beaten  back  by  the  cloud  of  spears  and  tomahawks 
that  instantly  thickened  in  the  path  before  them.  In  the 
third  charge  the  veteran  fell,  a  musket-ball,  which  killed 
his  horse,  having  shattered  his  knee  while  passing  through 
the  body  of  the  charger. 

But  the  fall  of  their  general,  instead  of  disheartening 
seemed  only  to  nerve  his  brave  followers  with  new  deter 
mination  of  spirit,  as  placed  on  his  saddle  beneath  a  tree, 
the  stout  old  soldier  still  essayed  to  order  the  battle.  His 
manly  tones,  heard  even  above  the  din  of  the  conflict,  gave 
system  and  efficacy  to  the  brave  endeavor  of  his  broken 
ranks.  The  tree  against  which  he  leaned  became  a  cen 
tral  point  around  which  they  rallied,  fighting  now,  not  for 
conquest — hardly  for  self-preservation — but  only  in  stub 
born  resistance  of  their  fate.  Arid  now,  as  the  enemy, 
impatient  of  this  long  opposition,  concentrated  round  them, 
they  formed  in  circles,  and  received  in  silence  the  furious 
charge  of  their  hostile  countrymen.  Bayonet  crossed 
bayonet,  or  the  clubbed  rifle  battered  the  opposing  gun- 
stock  as  they  fought  hand  to  hand  and  foot  to  foot.  Again 
and  again  did  the  royalists  recoil  from  the  wall  of  iron 
hearts  against  which  they  had  hurled  themselves.  But 
though  the  living  rampart  yielded  not,  it  began  to  crum 
ble  with  these  successive  shocks  ;  the  ranks  of  the  patriots 
grew  thinner  around  their  wounded  general,  where  brave 
men  strewed  the  ground  like  leaves  when  the  autumn  is 
serest. 

The  Indian  allies  upon  either  side  had  in  the  mean  time 
suspended  their  firing.  In  vain  did  the  voice  of  Brant  en 
courage  his  Mohawks  to  strike  a  blow  which  should  at 


GREYSLAER; 


once  decide  this  fearful  crisis.  In  vain  did  the  gallant 
shout  of  Teondetha  cheer  on  the  Oneidas  to  rescue  his 
friends  from  the  destruction  that  hedged  them  in.  Not 
an  Indian  would  move  in  that  greenwood.  The  warriors 
of  the  forest  upon  both  sides  had  paused  to  watch  this  ter- 
ble  death-struggle  between  white  men  of  the  same  country 
and  language.  They  had  already  ceased  to  fire  upon  each 
other  ;  and  now,  gazing  together  upon  the  well-matched 
contest  of  those  who  involved  them  in  this  family  quarrel, 
they  would  not  raise  an  arm  to  strike  for  either  party. 

A  storm,  a  terrific  midsummer  tempest,  such  as  often 
marks  the  sudden  vicissitudes  of  our  climate,  was  the 
Heaven-directed  interposition  which  stayed  the  slaughter 
of  that  battle-field.  The  breath  of  the  thunder-gust  swept 
the  rain  in  sheets  of  foam  through  the  forest,  and  the  hail 
burst  down  in  torrents  upon  those  warring  bands,  whose 
arms  now  flashed  only  as  they  glinted  black  the  light 
ning's  glare. 

There  was  a  pause,  then,  in  the  bloody  fight  of  Oriska- 
ny ;  but  the  battle,  which  seemed  but  now  nearly  ended 
in  the  overthrow  of  the  patriots,  was  soon  to  be  resumed 
under  different  auspices.  The  royalists  had  withdrawn 
for  the  moment  to  a  spot  where  a  heavier  forest-growth 
afforded  them  some  protection  from  the  elements.  The 
republicans  had  conveyed  their  wounded  general  to  an 
adjacent  knoll,  from  which,  exposed  as  it  was  to  the  fire 
of  the  enemy,  he  insisted  on  ordering  the  battle,  when  it 
should  be  resumed  ;  and  here,  in  the  heat  of  the  onslaught 
which  succeeded,  the  sturdy  old  border  chief  was  ob 
served,  with  great  deliberation,  to  take  his  flint  and  tinder- 
box  from  his  pocket,  light  his  pipe,  and  smoke  with  per 
fect  composure.  The  veteran  bush-fighter,  who  missed 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE     MOHAWK.  423 

many  an  officer  around  him,  grieved  not  the  less  for  more 
than  one  favorite  rifle-shot  who  had  perished  among  his 
private  soldiers  ;  and,  in  order  to  counteract  the  mode  of 
warfare  adopted  by  Brant,  when,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
battle,  the  Indian  spears  and  tomahawks  made  such  dread 
ful  havoc  among  the  scattered  riflemen,  Herkimer  com 
manded  his  sharpshooters  to  station  themselves  in  pairs 
behind  a  single  tree,  and  one  always  to  reserve  his  fire 
till  the  Indians  should  rush  up  to  despatch  his  comrade 
when  loading. 

In  the  mean  time,  while  the  different  dispositions  for 
attack  and  defence  were  thus  making  by  their  leaders,  the 
rude  soldiers  on  either  side,  hundreds  of  whom  were  mu 
tually  acquainted,  exchanged  many  a  bitter  jeer  with  each 
other,  while  ever  and  anon,  as  some  taunting  cry  would 
rise  among  the  young  warriors  of  Brant's  party,  it  was 
echoed  by  the  opposing  Oneidas  with  a  fierce  whoop  of  de 
fiance  that  would  pierce  wildly  amid  the  peltings  of  the 
storm. 

An  hour  elapsed  before  an  abatement  of  the  tempest  al 
lowed  the  work  of  death  to  commence  anew.  A  move 
ment  on  the  part  of  the  royalists  by  Major  Watts's  bat 
talion,  first  drew  the  fire  of  the  patriots  ;  and  then  the 
Mohawks,  cheered  on  by  the  terrible  war-whoop  of  Brant, 
and  uttering  yell  on  yell  to  intimidate  their  foes,  com 
menced  the  onslaught,  tomahawk  in  hand.  But  the  cool 
execution  done  by  the  marksmen  whom  Herkimer  had  so 
wisely  planted  to  sustain  each  other,  made  them  quickly 
recoil ;  and  the  Oneidas,  eagerly  pressing  forward  from 
the  republican  side,  drove  them  back  upon  a  large  body 
of  Butler's  rangers.  Many  of  this  corps  had  been  so  se 
verely  handled  by  Greyslaer's  men  in  the  first  part  of  the 


424  GREYSLAER; 


battle,  that  they  had  fallen  back  to  take  care  of  their 
wounded.  But  Bradshawe's  company,  which  had  suffered 
least,  was  now  in  advance.  These  fierce  men  brooked  no 
control  from  the  young  subaltern  who  was  now  nominally 
their  commander.  Headed  by  the  terrible  Valtmeyer, 
whose  clothes  were  smeared  with  the  gore  from  a  dozen 
scalps  which  dangled  at  his  waist,  they  broke  their  ranks, 
rushed  singly  upon  the  Oneidas,  who  had  intruded  into 
their  lair,  and,  driving  them  back  among  their  friends,  be 
came  the  next  moment  themselves  mixed  up  in  wild  me 
lee  with  partisans  of  the  other  side.  This  onslaught  served 
as  a  signal  for  a  rival  corps  in  another  part  of  the  field  ; 
and  Claus's  Rangers  broke  their  cover  to  battle  with  their 
foemen  hand  to  hand. 

This  corps  of  refugee  royalists  consisted  of  men  enlisted 
chiefly  from  the  very  neighborhood  where  they  were  now 
fighting.  They  had  come  back  to  their  former  homes, 
bearing  with  them  the  hot  thirst  of  vengeance  against 
their  former  friends  and  neighbors  ;  and  when  they  heard 
the  triumphant  shout  of  the  Whigs  at  a  momentary  recoil 
of  their  friends,  and  perhaps  recognized  the  voices  of 
some  who  had  aided  in  driving  them  from  their  country, 
their  impatience  could  not  be  restrained  ;  they  rushed  for 
ward  with  a  fiendish  yell  of  hatred  and  ferocity,  while  the 
patriots,  instead  of  awaiting  the  charge,  in  obedience  to 
the  commands  of  their  officer,  sprang  like  chafed  tigers 
from  their  covert,  and  met  them  in  the  midst.  Bayonets 
and  clubbed  muskets, made  the  first  shock  fatal  to  many; 
but  these  were  quickly  thrown  aside  as  the  parties  came 
in  grappling  contact,  drawing  their  knives  and  throttling 
each  other,  stabbing,  and  literally  dying  in  each  other's 
embrace.* 


*  Stone,  Campbell,  Gouverneur  Morris. 


A     ROMANCE     OF     THE     MOHAWK.  425 

And  thus,  for  five  long  hours,  raged  this  ruthless  con 
flict.  All  military  order  had  been  lost  in  the  moment 
\vhen  the  wild  bush-fighters  first  broke  their  cover  and 
rushed  forward  to  decide  the  battle  hand  to  hand.  Men 
fought  with  the  fury  of  demons  ;  or  if,  by  chance,  a  squad 
or  party  of  five  or  six  found  themselves  acting  together, 
these  'would  quickly  form,  rush  forward,  and,  charging 
into  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  soon  be  lost  amid  the  crowd 
of  combatants.  At  one  moment,  the  tomahawk  of  some 
fierce  red  warrior  would  crash  among  the  bayonets  and 
spears  of  whites  and  Indians  as  he  hewed  his  way  to  res 
cue  some  comrade  that  was  beset  by  clustering  foes ;  at 
another,  the  shattering  of  shafts  and  clashing  of  steel 
would  be  heard  where  a  sturdy  pioneer,  with  his  back  to 
a  tree,  stood,  axe  in  hand,  cleaving  down  a  soldier  at 
every  blow,  or  matching  the  cherished  tool  of  his  craft 
with  the  ponderous  mace  of  some  brawny  savage.  Now 
the  groans  of  the  dying,  mixed  with  imprecations  deep 
and  foul,  rose  harshly  above  the  din  of  the  battle,  and  now 
the  dismal  howl  or  exulting  yell  of  the  red  Indian  was 
mocked  by  a  thousand  demoniac  voices,  screeching  wild 
through  the  forest,  as  if  the  very  fiends  of  hell  were  let 
loose  in  that  black  ravine. 

The  turmoil  of  the  elements  has  long  since  subsided. 
The  sky  is  clear  and  serene  above.  Happily,  the  forest 
glooms  interpose  a  veil  between  its  meek,  holy  eye,  and 
this  dance  of  devilish  passions  upon  the  earth. 


426  GREYSLAER; 


CHAPTER    VI. 


THE     ISSUES    OF    THE    BATTLE. 


"  Let  me  recall  to  your  recollection  the  bloody  field  where  Herkimer 
fell.  There  were  found  the  Indian  and  the  white  man,  born  on  the  banks 
of  the  Mohawk,  their  left  hand  clenched  in  each  other's  hair,  the  right 
grasping  in  the  gripe  of  death  the  knife  plunged  in  each  other's  bosom. 
Thus  they  lay  frowning." — Discourse  of  Gouvcrneur  Morris  before  the  New 
York  Historical  Society,  1812. 


AN  accomplished  statesman  and  eloquent  writer  has, 
in  the  passage  which  heads  this  chapter,  well  depicted 
the  appearance  which  the  field  of  Oriskany  presented 
when  the  fight  was  over.  The  battle  itself,  while  the 
most  bloody  fought  during  the  Revolution,  is  remarkable 
for  having  been  contested  exclusively  between  Ameri- 
crms,  or  at  least  between  those  who,  if  not  natives  of  the 
soil,  were  all  denizens  of  the  province  in  which  it  was 
fought.  And  though  its  political  consequences  were  of 
slight  moment,  for  both  parties  claimed  the  victory,  yet, 
from  the  character  of  the  troops  engaged  in  it — from  the 
number  of  Indian  warriors  that  were  arrayed  upon  either 
side — the  protracted  fierceness  of  the  action,  and  the  ter 
rible  slaughter  which  marked  its  progress,  it  must  be 
held  the  most  memorable  conflict  that  marked  our  seven 
years'  struggle  for  national  independence. 

Of  the  field  officers  that  fell,  it  is  true  that   most,  like 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  427 

the  brave  Herkimer  himself,  were  only  militia-men,  and 
of  no  great  public  consideration  beyond  their  own  coun 
ty  ;  but  with  these  gallant  gentlemen  were  associated  as 
volunteers  more  than  one  military  man  of  rank  and  repute 
that  had  been  won  upon  other  fields  ;  and  many  a  civilian 
of  eminence,  who,  at  the  call  of  patriotism,  had  shouldered 
a  musket  and  met  his  death  as  a  private  soldier.  The 
combatants  upon  either  side  consisting  almost  exclusively 
of  inhabitants  of  the  Mohawk  Valley,  there  were  so  many 
friends  and  neighbors, .kinsmen,  and  even  brothers  arrayed 
against  each  other,  that  the  battle  partook  of  the  nature 
of  a  series  of  private  feuds,  in  which  the  most  bitter  feel 
ings  of  the  human  heart  were  brought  into  play  between 
the  greater  part  of  those  engaged.  And  when  the  few 
who  were  actuated  by  a  more  chivalric  spirit — like  the 
gallant  Major  Watts  of  the  Royal  New  Yorkers,  and 
others  who  might  be  designated  among  his  hostile  com 
patriots — met  in  opposing  arms,  they  too  fought  with  a 
stubborn  valor,  as  if  the  military  character  of  their  native 
province  depended  equally  upon  the  dauntless  bearing  of 
either  party.  The  annalist  has  elsewhere  preserved  so 
many  minute  and  thrilling  details  of  Herkimer's  last  field,* 
that  it  hardly  becomes  us  to  recapitulate  them  here, 
though  we  would  fain  recall  some  of  those  traits  of  chiv 
alrous  gallantry  and  generous  daring  which  redeem  the 
brutal  ferocity  of  the  contest. 

The  deeds  of  the  brave  Captain  Dillenback,  though  his 
name  is  not  intermingled  with  the  thread  of  our  story,  are 
so  characteristic  of  the  times  in  which  its  scenes  are  laid, 

*  See  Stone's  Border  Wars  of  the  American  Revolution. 


428  GREYSLAER; 


that  they  can  hardly  be  passed  over.  This  officer  had 
his  private  enemies  among  those  who  were  now  arrayed 
in  battle  as  public  foes  ;  and  Wolfert  Valtmeyer,  with 
three  others  among  the  most  desperate  of  the  refugees, 
determined  to  seize  his  person  in  the  midst  of  the  fight, 
and  carry  him  off  for  some  purpose  best  known  to  them 
selves.  Watching  their  opportunity,  these  four  despera 
does,  when  the  tumult  of  the  conflict  was  at  the  highest, 
cut  their  way  to  the  spot  where  Dillenba^k  was  standing; 
and  one  of  them  succeeded  in  mastering  his  gun  for  a 
moment.  But  Dillenback,  who  caught  sight  of  Valt- 
meyer's  well-known  form  pressing  forward  to  aid  his 
comrades  in  the  capture,  knew  better  than  to  trust  himself 
to  the  tender  mercies  of  his  outlaw  band.  He  swore  that 
he  would  not  be  taken  alive,  and  he  was  not.  Wrenching 
his  gun  from  the  grasp  of  the  first  assailant,  he  felled  him 
to  the  earth  with  the  breech,  shot  the  second  dead,  and 
plunged  the  bayonet  into  the  heart  of  the  third.  But  in 
the  moment  of  his  last  triumph  the  brave  Whig  was 
himself  laid  dead  by  a  pistol-shot  from  Valtmeyer,  who 
chanced  to  be  the  fourth  in  coming  up  to  him. 

But  perhaps  as  true  a  chevalier  as  met  his  fate  amid  all 
that  host  of  valiant  hearts  was  a  former  friend  of  Bait  the 
woodsman,  an  old  Mohawk  hunter,  who  bore  the  un 
couth  Dutch  name  of  Bronkahorlst. 

It  was  in  the  heat  of  the  fight,  when  Brant's  dusky  fol 
lowers,  flitting  from  tree  to  tree,  had  at  one  time  almost 
surrounded  Greyslaer's  small  command,  that  Bait,  in  the 
thickest  of  the  fire,  heard  a  well-known  voice  calling  him 
by  name  from  behind  a  large  tree  near ;  and,  looking  out 
from  the  huge  trunk  which  sheltered  his  own  person,  he 
recognized  the  only  Indian  with  whom  his  prejudices 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  409 

against  the  race  had  ever  allowed  him  to  be  upon  terms 
of  intimacy. 

"Come,  my  brother,"  said  the  Iroquois  warrior,  in  his 
own  tongue.  "  come  and  escape  death  or  torture  by  sur 
rendering  to  your  old  friend,  who  pledges  the  word  of  a 
Mohawk  for  your  kind  treatment  and  protection." 

"Rather  to  you  than  to  anybody,  my  noble  old  boy; 
but  Bait  will  be  prisoner  this  day  to  no  mortal  man.  My 
name  is  Nozun  Dofji — he  that  never  shirks." 

"  And  my  name,"  .cried  the  Indian,  "  is  The  Killer  of 
Brave  Men;  so  come  on;  we  are  happily  met."  With 
these  words  both  parties  threw  down  their  rifles,  and, 
drawing  their  knives,  rushed  upon  each  other. 

The  struggle  was  only  a  brief  one  ;  for  Time,  who  had 
nerved  the  brawny  form  of  the  white  borderer  into  the 
full  maturity  of  manly  strength,  had  dealt  less  leniently 
with  the  aged  Indian,  who  was  borne  at  once  to  the 
ground  as  they  closed  in  the  death-grapple.  It  was  in 
vain  that  Bait,  mindful  of  other  days  and  kinder  meetings 
in  the  deep  woodlands,  attempted  to  save  his  opponent's 
life  by  making  him  a  prisoner  ;  for,  in  the  moment  that 
he  mastered  the  scalping-knife  of  the  Indian  and  pinioned 
his  right  arm  to  the  ground,  the  latter,  writhing  beneath 
his  adversary  with  the  flexibility  of  a  serpent,  brought  up 
his  knee  so  near  to  his  left  hand  as  to  draw  the  leg-knife 
from  beneath  the  garter,  and  dealt  Bait  a  blow  in  his  side 
which  nothing  but  his  hunting-shirt  of  tough  elk-hide  pre 
vented  from  being  fatal.  Even  as  it  was,  the  weapon, 
after  sliding  an  inch  or  two,  cut  through  the  arrow-proof 
garment  that  ere  now  had  turned  a  sabre ;  while  Bait, 
feeling  the  point  graze  upon  his  ribs,  thought  that  his  cam 
paigning  days  were  over,  and,  in  the  exasperation  of  the 


430  GREYSLAER; 


moment,  buried  his  knife  to  the  hilt  in  the  bare  bosom  of 
Bronkahorlst. 

"  We  are  going  together,  old  boy,"  he  cried,  as  he  sank 
back  with  a  momentary  faintness.  "  I  only  hope  we'll 
find  the  game  as  plenty  in  your  hunting-ground  of  spirits 
as  we  have  on  the  banks  of  the  Sacondaga  ;  God  forgive 
me  for  being  sich  a  heathen  !" 

But  while  this  singular  duel,  with  personal  encounters 
of  a  similar  nature,  were  taking  place  in  one  part  of  the 
field,  others  more  eventful  in  their  consequences  were 
transpiring  elsewhere.  The  puissant  deeds  of  Captain. 
Gardinier,  like  those  of  Dillenback,  have  given  his  name  a 
place  upon  the  sober  page  of  history  ;  but,  as  they  involved 
the  fate  of  more  than  one  of  the  personages  of  our  story, 
we  have  no  hesitation  in  recapitulating  them  here. 

One  principal  cause,  perhaps,  why  the  Whigs  maintained 
their  ground  with  such  desperate  tenacity,  was  the  hope 
that,  so  soon  as  the  sound  of  their  fire-arms  should  reach 
the  invested  garrison  of  Fort  Stanwix,  a  sally  would  be 
attempted  by  the  besieged  to  effect  a  diversion  in  their 
favor.  That  sally,  so  famous  in  our  Revolutionary  his 
tory,  and  which  gave  to  WILLET,  who  conducted  it,  the 
name  of  "  the  hero  of  Fort  Stanwix,"  did,  in  fact,  take  place 
before  the  close  of  the  battle  of  Oriskany,  and  was,  as  we 
all  know,  attended  with  the  most  brilliant  success.  But, 
long  before  the  performance  of  that  gallant  feat  of  Willet's, 
the  Tory  partisan,  Colonel  Butler,  aware  of  the  hopes 
which  animated  his  Whig  opponents  at  Oriskany,  essayed 
a  ruse  de  guerre,  which  had  well  nigh  eventuated  in  their 
complete  destruction. 

This  wily  officer,  withdrawing  a  large  detachment  of 
Johnson's  Greens  from  the  field  of  action,  partially  dis- 


A    ROMANCE     OF    THE     MOHAWK.  431 

guised  them  as  Republican  troops  by  making  them  change 
their  hats  for  those  of  their  fallen  enemies  ;  and  then  adopt 
ing  the  patriot  colors  and  other  party  emblems  so  far  as 
they  could,  they  made  a  circuit  through  the  woods,  and 
turned  the  flank  of  the  Whigs  in  the  hope  of  gaining  the 
midst  of  them  by  coming  in  the  guise  of  a  timely  rein 
forcement  sent  from  the  fort. 

The  hats  of  these  soldiers  appearing  first  through  the 
bushes,  cheered  Herkimer's  men  at  once.  The  cry  was 
instantly  raised  that  succor  was  at  hand.  Many  of  the 
undisciplined  yeomanry  broke  from  their  stations,  and  ran 
to  grasp  the  hands  of  their  supposed  friends. 

"  Beware  !  beware !  'tis  the  enemy  ;  don't  you  see  their 
green  coats?"  shouted  Captain Gardinier, whose  company 
of  dismounted  rangers  wras  nearest  to  these  new-comers. 
But,  even  as  he  spoke,  one  of  his  own  soldiers,  a  slight 
stripling,  recognizing  his  own  brother  among  the  Greens, 
and  supposing  him  embarked  in  the  same  cause  with  him 
self,  rushed  forward  to  embrace  him.  His  outstretched 
hand  was  seized  with  no  friendly  grasp  by  his  hostile  kins 
man  ;  for  the  Tory  brother,  fastening  a  ferocious  gripe 
upon  the  credulous  Whig,  dragged  him  within  the  oppos 
ing  lines,  exclaiming  only,  as  he  flung  him  backwards  amid 
his  comrades,  "  See,  some  of  ye,  to  the  d — d  young  rebel, 
will  ye  ?" 

"  For  God's  sake,  brother,  let  them  not  kill  me  !  Do  you 
not  know  me?"  shrieked  the  youthful  patriot,  as  he  clutched 
at  one  of  those  amid  whom  he  fell,  to  shield -him  from  the 
blows  that  were  straightway  aimed  at  his  life. 

But  his  brother  had  other  work  to  engage  him  at  this 
instant ;  for  the  gallant  Gardinier,  observing  the  action  and 
its  result,  seized  a  partisan  from  a  corporal  who  stood 


432  GREYSLAER; 


near,  and  wielding  the  spear  like  a  quarter  staff,  dealt  his 
blows  to  the  right  and  left  so  vigorously  that  he  soon  beat 
back  the  disordered  group  and  liberated  his  man,  who, 
clubbing  his  rifle  as  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  instantly  levelled 
his  treacherous  brother  in  the  dust.  But  Gardinier  and 
his  stripling  soldier  were  now  in  the  midst  of  the  Greens, 
unsupported  by  any  of  their  comrades  ;  and  the  sturdy 
Major  MacDonald.  who  this  day  had  taken  duty  with  a 
detachment  of  Johnson's  men,  rushed  forward  sword  in 
hand  to  cut  down  Gardinier  in  the  same  moment  that  two 
of  the  disguised  Greens  sprang  upon  him  from  behind. 
Struggling  with  almost  superhuman  strength  to  free  him 
self  from  their  grasp,  the  spurs  of  the  Whig  Ranger  be 
came  entangled  in  the  clothes  of  his  adversaries,  and  he 
was  thrown  to  the  ground.  Both  of  his  thighs  were  in 
stantly  transfixed  to  the  earth  by  the  bayonets  of  two  of 
his  assailants,  while  MacDonald,  presenting  the  point  of 
his  rapier  to  his  throat,  cried  out  to  "  Yield  himself,  rescue 
or  no  rescue."  But  Gardinier  did  not  yet  dream  of  yield 
ing. 

Seizing  the  blade  of  the  sword  with  his  left  hand,  the 
trooper,  by  a  sudden  wrench,  brought  the  Highlander  down 
upon  his  own  person,  where  he  held  him  for  a  moment  as  a 
shield  against  the  assault  of  others.  At  this  moment,  Adam 
Miller  for  the  first  time  saw  the  struggle  of  Gardinier 
against  this  fearful  odds.  His  sword  was  already  out  and 
crimson  with  blood  of  more  than  one  foe  ;  and  now,  rush 
ing  forward,  he  laid  about  him  so  industriously,  that  the 
Greens  were  compelled  to  defend  themselves  against  their 
new  adversary.  Gardinier,  raising  himself  to  a  sitting  pos 
ture,  bore  back  MacDonald  ;  but  the  gallant  Scot,  still 
clinching  the  throat  of  his  foe  with  his  left  hand,  braced 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE    MOHAWK.  433 

himself  firmly  on  one  knee,  and  turned  to  parry  the 
frenzied  blows  of  Miller  with  his  right. — Gardinier  had 
but  one  hand  at  liberty,  and  that  was  lacerated  by  the 
rapier  which  he  had  grasped  so  desperately;  yet,  quick  as 
light,  he  seized  the  spear  which  was  still  lying  near  him, 
and  planted  the  barb  in  the  side  of  MacDonald.  The 
chivalric  Highlander  expired  without  a  groan. 

The  Greens,  struck  with  dismay  at  the  fate  of  this  vete 
ran  officer,  the  near  friend  of  Sir  John  Johnson,  fell  back 
upon  those  of  their  comrades  who  had  not  yet  broken  their 
ranks;  while  those  lookers-on,  stung  with  grief  for  the  loss 
of  such  an  officer,  rallied  instantly  to  the  charge,  and  poured 
in  a  volley  upon  the  Whigs,  who  had  jnst  succeeded  in 
dragging  the  wounded  Gardinier  out  of  the  melee.  Several 
fell,  but  their  death  was  avenged  on  the  instant ;  yet  dearly 
avenged,  for  the  blow  which  followed,  while  it  terminated 
the  battle,  concluded  the  existence  of  one  of  the  most  gal 
lant  spirits  embarked  in  it. 

Young  Derrick  de  lloos  on  that  day  had  enacted  won 
ders  of  prowess.  And  though  the  rashness  he  exhibited 
made  his  early  sobriquet  of  "  Mad  Dirk"  remembered  by 
more  than  one  of  his  comrades,  yet  he  seemed  to  bear  a 
charmed  life  while  continually  rushing  to  and  fro  wherever 
the  fight  was  hottest.  At  the  very  opening  of  the  con 
flict,  when  most  of  the  mounted  Rangers  threw  themselves 
from  their  saddles  and  took  to  the  bushes  with  their  rifles,* 

*  The  horses  of  mounted  riflemen  are  generally,  during  a  frontier  fight, 
secured  to  a  tree  in  some  hollow  or  behind  some  knoll,  Avhich  protects  them 
from  the  enemy's  fire.  Not  infrequently,  however,  the  sagacious  animal  is 
trained,  in  obedience  to  the  order  of  his  master,  to  crouch  among  the  loaves, 
or  couch  down  like  a  dog  behind  some  fallen  tree,  while  the  rider, protected 
by  the  same  natural  rampart,  fires  over  his  body. 


434:  GREYSLAER; 


De  Roos,  with  but  a  handful  of  troopers  to  back  him,  drew 
his  sword  and  charged  into  the  thickets  from  which  came 
the  first  fire  of  the  ambushed  foe. 

"  It  is  impossible  for  cavalry  to  act  upon  such  ground,' 
exclaimed  an  officer,  seeing  him  about  to  execute  this  mad 
movement.  De  Roos,  who,  on  the  march,  was  leading  his 
horse,  did  not  heed  the  remark  as  he  threw  himself  into 
the  saddle.  "Your  spurs — where  are  your  spurs,  man?" 
cried  another,  as  the  horse,  flurried  by  the  first  fire,  rose 
on  his  hinder  legs  instead  of  dashing  forward.  "  Charge 
not  without  your  spurs,  captain!" 

"  I'm  going  to  win  my  spurs,"  shouted  Mad  Dirk  strik 
ing  the  flanks  of  the  steed  with  the  flat  of  his  sabre,  which 
the  next  moment  gleamed  above  his  head  as  the  spirited 
animal,  gathering  courage  from  his  fiery  rider,  bounded 
forward  in  the  charge. 

In  the  instant  confusion  that  followed,  De  Roos  was  no 
more  seen  ;  the  smoke,  indeed,  sometimes  revealed  his 
orange  plume  floating  like  a  tongue  of  flame  amid  its 
wreaths;  and  his  "  Carry  on,  carry  on,  men,"  for  a  few 
moments  cheered  the  ears  of  the  friends  who  could  dis 
tinguish  his  gay  and  reckless  voice  even  amid  the  earnest 
shouts  of  the  white  borderers,  mingled  as  they  were  with 
the  wild  slogan  of  the  Indian  warriors.  But  De  Roos 
himself  appeared  no  more  until,  in  the  pause  of  the  battle 
already  mentioned,  he  presented  himself  among  his  com 
patriots,  exclaiming, 

"  I've  used  up  all  my  men  !  Is  there  no  handful  of 
brave  fellows  here  who  will  rally  under  Dirk  de  Roos 
when  we  set-to  again  ?" 

The  fearful  slaughter  which,  as  is  known,  took  place 
among  Herkimer's  officers  at  the  very  outset  of  the  fight, 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE    MOHAWK.  435 

and  almost  with  the  first  volley  from  Brant's  people,  yet 
left  men  enough  among  these  undisciplined  bands  to  fur 
nish  forth  a  stout  array  of  volunteers,  who  were  eager  to 
fight  under  so  daring  a  leader  ;  and  when  the  battle  was 
renewed,  the  wild  partisan  went  into  it  with  a  train  more 
numerous  than  before.  But  his  horse  had  long  since  been 
killed  under  him  ;  the  followers  upon  whom  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  relying  had  fallen,  either  dead  or  disabled,  by  his 
side ;  and  Derrick,  somewhat  sobered  in  spirit,  became 
more  economical  of  his  resources.  And,  though  still  ex 
posing  his  own  person  as  much  as  ever,  he  was  vigi 
lant  in  seeing  that  his  men  were  well  covered,  while  he 
hoarded  their  energies  to  strike  some  well-directed  blow 
which  might  terminate  the  battle. 

With  the  last  volley  of  the  Greens  he  thought  the  fitting 
moment  had  come.  His  bugle  sounded  a  charge,  and  on 
rushed  his  band  with  the  bayonet. 

'*  Carry  on,  carry  on  !"  shouted  De  Roos,  who  charged, 
sword  in  hand,  a  musket's  length  ahead  of  his  foremost 
files. 

It  seemed  impossible  for  the  weary  royalists  to  stand 
up  against  this  column  ;  for  small  in  number  as  were  the 
men  who  composed  it,  they  were  comparatively  fresh, 
from  a  short  breathing  spell  which  they  had  enjoyed  ; 
while  their  spirits  were  excited  to  the  utmost  by  their 
having  been  kept  back  by  their  officer,  as  he  waited  for 
the  approaching  crisis  before  permitting  a  man  to  move. 
But  the  line  of  the  royalists,  though  broken  and  uneven, 
was  still  so  much  longer  than  that  of  the  patriots,  that,  out 
flanking  their  assailants  as  they  did,  they  had  only  to  per 
mit  their  headlong  foe  to  pass  through,  and  then  fall  up.m 
his  rear. 


433  GREYSLAER; 


This  movement  the  Greens  effected  with  equal  alacrity 
and  steadiness.  Their  ranks  opened  with  such  quickness 
that  they  seemed  to  melt  like  a  wave  before  De  Roos's  im 
petuous  charge  ;  but,  wavelike  too,  they  closed  again  be 
hind  his  little  band,  which  was  thus  cut  off  from  the  patriot 
standard.  Furious  at  being  thus  caught  in  the  toils,  the 
fierce  republicans  wheeled  again,  and  madly  endeavored 
to  cut  their  way  back  to  their  friends  ;  but  the  equally 
brave  royalists  far  outnumbered  them,  and  their  fate 
for  the  moment  seemed  sealed,  when  suddenly  another 
player  in  this  iron  game  presented  himself. 

Max  Greyslaer,  who,  from  a  distance,  had  watched  the 
movement  of  his  friend  with  the  keenest  anxiety,  saw  the 
unequal  struggle  upon  which  the  fortunes  of  the  whole 
battle  were  turning.  He  had  fought  all  day  on  foot,  and 
wounded  and  weary, he  seemed  too  far  from  the  spot  upon 
which  all  the  chances  of  the  fight  were  now  concentered 
to  reach  it  ere  they  were  decided.  He  looked  eagerly 
around  for  assistance  ;  he  shouted  madly  to  those  who 
were  closer  to  De  Roos  to  press  forward  ;  and,  bounding 
over  a  fallen  tree  near  him,  he  stumbled  upon  the  trained 
horse  of  a  rifleman,  which  had  been  taught  to  crouch  in  the 
thickets  for  safety.  The  couchant  steed — but  now  so 
quiet  when  masterless — rose  with  a  grateful  winnow  as 
Max  seized  his  bridle  ;  and,  gladly  yielding  his  back  to  so 
featly  a  rider,  he  tossed  his  head  with  proud  neighing  as 
he  felt  himself  no  longer  a  passive  sharer  in  the  dangers 
of  the  field.  On  came  the  gallant  horse.  The  rider  gath 
ered  new  life  from  the  fresh  spirits  of  his  steed.  He 
swept — 'twas  thus  the  warlike  saints  of  old  swept  before 
the  eyes  of  the  knightly  combatants — he  swept  meteor- 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE     MOHAWK.  437 

like  across  the  field,  and  charged  with  his  flashing  brand, 
singly  against  the  royal  host.  Down  went  the  green  ban 
ner  of  the  Johnsons  ;  down  went  the  sturdy  banner-man, 
shorn  to  the  earth  by  that  trenchant  blade. 

The  Greens,  attacked  thus  impetuously  in  their  rear, 
turned  partly  round  to  confront  this  bold  assailant ;  but 
Greyslaer  had  already  cloven  his  way  through  their  line, 
and  Christian  Lansingh,  with  a  score  of  active  borderers, 
had  rushed  tumultuously  into  his  wake.  The  royalists 
were  broken  and  forced  back  laterally  on  either  side  of 
the  pathway  thus  made  ;  but  either  fragment  of  the  dis 
joined  band  still  struggled  to  reunite  with  desperate  valor. 
The  republicans,  concentrating  their  forces  upon  one  at  a 
time,  charged  both  parties  alternately.  Thrice,  wheeling 
with  the  suddenness  of  a  falcon  in  mid  air,  had  Greyslaer 
hurled  himself  upon  their  crumbling  ranks;  and  now,  as 
one  division  was  nearly  annihilated  by  that  last  charge,  De 
Roos,  emulous  of  his  friend,  headed  the  onslaught  against 
the  remaining  fragment  of  the  royalists.  His  orange 
plume  again  floated  foremost ;  and  loud  as  when  the  fight 
was  new,  his  cheering  voice  was  heard, 

"  Carry  on,  men,  carry  o "* 

An  Indian  whoop — the  last  that  was  heard  upon  the 
field  of  Oriskany — followed  the  single  shot  which  hushed 
that  voice  and  laid  that  orange  plume  in  the  dust. 

Both  Mohawks  and  royalists  had  already  mostly  with 
drawn  from  the  field ;  and  the  remainder  of  the  Greens, 


*  In  the  action  in  which  the  United  States  Frigate  President,  was  cap 
tured  by  a  British  squadron,  off  Sandy  Hook,  Lieut.  Hamilton  expired  with 
this  catch  phrase  upon  his  lips.  It  was  his  cant  expression,  at  "  feast  or 
frav." 


438  -  GREYSLAER; 


who  had  contested  it  to  the   last  so  stubbornly,  retired 
when  they  saw  De  Roos  fall.* 


*  Brant  and  his  Tory  confederates  carried  off  so  many  prisoners  with 
them  from  the  field  of  Oriskany,  that  the  battle  is  often  spoken  of  as  a  de 
feat  of  the  Whigs.  But  as  these  prisoners  were  taken  in  the  early  part  of 
the  action,  and  during  the  first  confusion  of  the  ambuscade,  the  meed  of  vic 
tory  must  be  accorded  to  the  patriots,  who  were  left  in  possession  of  the 
battle-field ;  fearful,  however,  as  was  the  general  slaughter,  the  loss  of  life 
upon  the  Royalist  side  seems  to  have  been  chiefly  among  the  Indian  war 
riors,  while  on  the  Republican  side  the  whites  suffered  far  more  than  did 
their  Oneida  allies. 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    JVIOHAWK.  439 


CHAPTER    VII. 


THE    DOUBTFUL    PARENTAGE. 


;  True  joy,  still  born  of  heaven,  is  blessed  with  wings, 
And,  tired  of  earth,  it  plumes  them  back  again  : 
And  so  we  lose  it.     A  sad  change  came  o'er 
The  fortunes  of  that  pair,  whose  loves  have  been 
Our  theme  of  story — a  sad  change,  that  oft 
Comes  o'er  love's  fortunes  in  all  lands  and  homes."      SIMMS. 


THEY  were  busy  making  rude  litters  for  the  wounded 
upon  that  field  of  slaughter.  The  brave  Herkimer,  who 
so  soon  died  of  his  injury,  was  already  borne  off;  but 
most  of  his  surviving  followers  yet  remained.  There 
were  groups  of  mournful  faces  around  the  dying,  and  here 
and  there  a  desolate-looking  man  was  seen  stalking  over 
the  field,  pausing  from  time  to  time  in  his  dreary  quest, 
looking  around  now  with  quick  and  painful  glances,  and 
now,  with  a  half-fearful  air,  stooping  over  some  gory  corse, 
as  if  seeking  some  near  friend  or  kinsman  among  the  fallen. 

By  the  root  of  a  dusky  tamarack  lay  a  bleeding  officer, 
whose  pale  features  showed  that  he  was  yet  young  in 
years  ;  while  another  of  similar  age  was  busied  in  stanch 
ing  the  blood  which  oozed  in  torrents  from  his  side.  A 
kneeling  soldier  offered  a  vessel  of  water  ;  a  grizzly  hunter 
held  the  feet  of  the  dying  man  in  his  bosom ;  as  if  to 
cherish  the  extremities  that  were  rapidly  growing  cold. 


440  GREYSLAER. 


A  grave  Indian  stood  mutely  looking  on.  If  he  indeed 
sorrowed  in  heart  like  the  others,  his  smooth  cheek  and 
quiet  eye  betrayed  not  the  agitation  which  painted  their 
faces  with  emotion. 

It  was  of  no  avail,  the  kindness  of  that  ministering 
group  of  friends.  The  dying  man,  indeed,  once  opened 
his  eyes,  and  he  seemed  to  murmur  something,  which  the 
other  officer  bent  forward  with  the  most  earnest  solicita 
tion  to  hear.  He  seemed  to  have  some  charge  or  bequest 
of  wishes  to  make  to  his  friend ;  but  his  thoughts  could 
not  syllable  themselves  into  connected  utterance.  His 
wound  seemed  to  gather  virulence  from  each  successive 
effort ;  yet  still  he  squandered  his  remaining  strength  in 
futile  attempts  to  communicate  with  his  friends.  Alas ! 
why  did  he  not  speak  before,  that  luckless  soldier,  if  life's 
last  moments  were  so  precious  so  him  ? 

"I  know — I  know — it  is  of  Guise,  the  Indian  child,  you 
would  speak,"  cried  the  agonized  friend,  as  the  sudden 
thought  started  into  his  mind.  "  It  is  the  mystery  of  his 
birth — it  is  your  wishes  about  your  own  offspring  that 
you  would  declare.  God  of  heaven,  pardon  and  spare 
him  for  a  moment.  Press  my  hand,  Derrick,  if  I  have 
guessed  truly  that  the  child  is  yours  ;  make  any — the 
least,  the  feeblest  sign,  and  your  boy  shall  be  as  dear  to 
Greyslaer  as  his  own." 

But  Derrick  died  and  gave  no  sign  !  His  last  breath 
went  out  in  the  moment  that  his  agitated  friend,  for  the 
first  time,  conjectured  what  he  intended  to  reveal. 

They  buried  him  beneath  that  dusky  tamarack  ;  and 
there  let  him  lie.  a  gallant,  frank-hearted  soldier,  whose 
bravery  and  generosity  of  disposition  were  remembered 
in  his  native  valley  long  after  the  blemishes,  or,  rather. 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  441 

the  inherent  defects  of  his  character  were  forgotten ;  a 
character  not  altogether  inestimable,  far  less  unloveable, 
at  that  graceful  season  of  life  when  the  wildest  sallies  of 
youth  are  forgotten  in  the  generous  impulses  which  seem 
to  prompt  them,  but  which,  unregulated  by  one  steadfast 
principle,  was,  perhaps,  of  all  others,  the  most  likely  to 
degenerate  into  utter  profligacy  and  selfishness  when  age 
should  have  chilled  the  social  flow  of  its  feelings,  and 
habit  confirmed  the  reckless  indulgence  of  its  own  hu 
mors. 

It  was  well,  then,  perhaps,  for  the  memory  of  the  gay 
and  high-spirited  De  Roos,  that  his  career  closed  when  it 
did ;  but  the  sorrowing  group  who  were  now  retiring 
from  his  hastily-made  grave,  would  have  spurned  the  sol 
ace  which  such  a  reflection  might  have  imparted.  The 
three  white  men  scattered  twigs  and  tufts  of  grass  over 
the  spot  before  they  left  it ;  and  they  turned  to  see  why 
the  Indian  still  lingered  behind  them ;  an  exclamation  of 
displeasure,  as  at  beholding  some  heathen  rite,  burst  from 
the  lips  of  Greyslaer  as  he  saw  a  column  of  smoke  arise 
from  a  pile  of  brush  which  Teondetha  had  already  heaped 
together. 

"  The  pagan  redskin,  what  is  he  doing  ?"  muttered 
Christian  Lansingh. 

"  Teondetha  is  wise,"  said  Bait,  sadly,  in  the  only  words 
of  kindness  he  had  ever  spoken  to  the  young  chief.  "  He 
has  preserved  all  that  remains  of  poor  Captain  Dirk ;  for 
the  wild  beasts  will  never  scratch  through  the  ashes  to 
disturb  him." 

The  Indian  replied  not,  and  they  all  left  the  battle-field 
in  silence. 

Tradition  tells  of  the  horrid  spectacle  which  that  field 
20 


442  GREYSLAER; 


exhibited  three  days  afterward,  when  the  wolves,  the 
bears,  and  the  panthers,  with  which  the  adjacent  forests 
at  that  time  abounded,  had  been  busy  among  the  graves 
of  the  slain  ;  but  the  simple  precaution  of  Teondetha  pre 
served  from  violation  the  last  resting-place  of  the  friend 
of  his  boyhood. 

Of  the  others  that  fell  in  this  ensanguined  conflict,  it  be 
longs  to  history  rather  than  to  us  to  speak.  The  annalist 
of  Tryon  county*  tells  us,  that  in  the  whole  Valley  of  the 
Mohawk,  there  was  scarcely  a  family  which  had  not  lost 
some  member  ;  scarcely  a  man,  woman  or  child  who  had 
not  some  relative  to  deplore  after  the  fatal  field  of  Oris- 
kany.  Brant's  warriors  had  suffered  so  severely,  that  his 
immediate  band  of  Mohawks  was  nearly  all  cut  to  pieces  ; 
but,  deeply  as  the  chieftan  grieved  for  the  loss  of  his  brave 
followers,  he  had  still  room  in  his  heart  to  lament  his 
friend  MacDonald.  At  this  point  we  shall  probably  take 
leave  of  the  famous  sachem  whose  career,  though  it  grows 
more  and  more  thrilling  in  interest  through  the  successive 
scenes  of  the  civil  war  along  this  border,  is  haply  no  far 
ther  interwoven  with  the  thread  of  our  narrative. 

Teondetha,  too,  though  he  may  possibly  again  flit  across 
our  page,  we  must  now  dismiss  with  his  Oneidas  to  the 
ancient  seats  of  his  people,  where  they  finally  halted  after 
cruelly  harassing  the  rear  of  the  flying  St.  Leger.  That 
officer,  as  is  known,  broke  up  his  lines  before  Fort  Stan- 
wix  upon  Arnold's  approach  to  Fort  Dayton,  and  effected 
a  most  disastrous  retreat  to  the  wilds  from  which  he  had 
emerged  with  such  boastful  anticipations.  Of  the  offi- 


*  Campbell. 


A    ROMANCE    OP    THE    MOHAWK.  443 

cers  to  whom  the  arduous  duty  of  pursuing  him  into  the 
wilderness  was  intrusted,  few  were  more  distinguished 
for  zeal  and  efficiency  than  Major  Greyslaer,  whose 
knowledge  of  forest  life  enabled  him  to  co-operate  with 
the  greatest  advantage  with  the  Oneida  allies  of  the  pa 
triot  cause. 

Returning  from  this  arduous  and  perilous  service,  Grey 
slaer,  when  halting  to  refresh  his  men  at  the  Oneida  Cas 
tle,  had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the  wedded  happi 
ness  of  "  The  Spreading  Dew,"  who  was  long  since 
united  to  her  true  warrior,  and  who  welcomed  him  with 
proud  feelings  of  gratification  to  her  husband's  lodge. 
He  sympathized  with  the  fortunate  issue  of  their  simple 
loves,  even  while  he  sighed  to  think  that  the  course  of  his 
own,  which  had  never  run  too  smoothly,  was  still  far  from 
bright. 

It  was  impossible  for  him  to  be  near  Alida  in  the  first 
days  of  her  grief,  when  the  tidings  should  reach  her  that 
her  only  brother,  the  last  male  of  her  family,  the  last  near 
relation  she  had  on  earth,  had  been  taken  away ;  but  he 
had  promised  himself  that  many  weeks  should  not  elapse 
before  she  should  find  a  comfort  in  the  society  of  one 
who  would  leave  no  means  untried  that  kindness  could 
suggest  to  alleviate  her  sorrows ;  who  would  in  all  things 
endeavor  to  supply  the  place  of  him  who  could  return  no 
more.  And,  truly,  if  the  ever-watchful  consideration,  the 
tender  and  fostering  care,  the  minute  and  gentle  offices  of 
affection  suggested  by  a  heart  of  inborn  delicacy  and  feel 
ing — if  these  cherishing  ministrations  at  the  hands  of  a 
stranger  to  our  blood  can  ever  supply  the  loss  of  a  natu 
ral  tie,  Max  Greyslaer  was  the  man  of  all  others  whose 
sympathies  would  be  most  balmful  at.  such  a  season. 


444  GREYS  LAER; 


Alida  herself,  though  in  the  first  agony  of  her  grief  she 
would  have  shrunk  from  communion  even  with  Greyslaer, 
yet,  when  the  paroxysm  had  passed  away,  looked  natu 
rally  to  her  lover — the  earliest  and  closest  friend  of  the 
brother  she  had  lost — as  her  best  consoler ;  and  she 
yearned  for  his  appearance  by  her  side  with  that  impa 
tience  of  disappointment  or  delay  which,  though  chiefly 
characteristic  of  poor  Derrick's  impetuous  and  irrestrain- 
able  disposition,  was  in  no  slight  degree  shared  as  a  fam 
ily  trait  by  his  sister.  But  the  day  was  far  distant  when 
the  lovers  were  again  to  meet ;  and  destiny  had  strange 
things  in  store  for  them  ere  that  meeting,  now  so  eagerly 
desired  by  both,  was  to  be  brought  about. 

The  greater  part  of  the  patriot  troops  employed  against 
St.  Leger  had  been  marched  off  to  oppose  Burgoyne, 
whose  invasion  along  the  Hudson  was  destined  to  be 
equally  unsuccessful  with  that  upon  the  Mohawk.  The 
fate  of  Major  Greyslaer  did  not  lead  him  to  have  a  share 
in  the  glorious  operations  of  Schuyler  and  Gates ;  while 
the  large  force  which  had  thus  been  withdrawn  from  the 
Valley  of  the  Mohawk,  rendering  the  utmost  vigilance 
necessary  in  those  who  were  left  to  guard  it,  made  it  im 
possible  for  an  officer  of  his  standing  and  importance  to 
be  absent  on  furlough  at  such  a  season. 

As  the  autumn  came  on,  he  found  himself  posted  at 
Fort  Stanwix,  where  new  works  were  to  be  erected  to 
strengthen  a  frontier  position  which  late  events  had 
proved  to  be  all-important  to  the  preservation  of  the 
province. 

The  winter  set  in,  and  his  prospect  of  seeing  Alida  was 
still  further  postponed.  The  spring  arrived  at  last ;  and 
what  were  the  hopes  it  brought  with  its  blossoms,  when 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  445 

Greyslaer  was  about  to  avail  himself  at  last  of  a  long- 
promised  furlough  ? 

The  letters  of  Alida,  meanwhile,  had  long  breathed  a 
spirit  which  filled  him  with  anxiety.  They  had  become 
more  and  more  brief;  and,  though  not  cold  precisely, 
there  was  yet  something  formal  in  their  tenor,  as  if  their 
writer  were  gradually  falling  back  upon  the  old  terms  of 
friendship  which  had  so  long  been  their  only  acknowl 
edged  relation  of  regard.  It  seemed  as  if  some  new  and 
deeper  sorrow  had  fixed  upon  her  heart ;  some  weight  of 
misery  which  even  he  could  not  remove.  She  did  not 
complain  ;  she  made  no  mention  of  any  specific  cause  of 
grief,  but  she  spoke  as  one  whose  hopes  were  no  longer 
of  this  world. 

At  first  Greyslaer  thought  that  it  was  the  death  of  her 
brother  which  had  thus  preyed  upon  her  spirits  ;  and  his 
replies  to  her  letters  bore  the  tenderest  sympathy  with 
her  sorrows  as  he  united  in  mourning  over  the  early- 
closed  career  of  his  gallant  and  high-spirited  friend.  But, 
dearly  as  she  loved  Derrick,  his  name  now  was  never 
mentioned  by  Alida  !  Could  it  be  that  her  health  was 
failing  ?  Was  the  grave,  then,  about  to  yawn  between 
Greyslaer  and  his  hopes,  to  swallow  them  up  for  ever  ? 
And  did  Alida  wish  thus  gradually  to  wean  him  from  the 
wild  idolatry  which  had  been  the  passion  of  his  life  ?  to 
prepare  him  for  the  passing  away  of  his  idol  1 

He  thought,  with  terror,  that  it  must  be  so.  There  was 
a  tone  of  serious  religious  sentiment,  a  character  of  meek 
ness  and  humility  in  some  of  her  letters,  wholly  foreign  to 
her  once  proud  and  fervid  spirit.  It  was  the  tone  of  one 
who  had  ceased  to  struggle  with  and  rebel  against  her 
lot ;  who  had  yielded  her  spirit  to  the  guidance  of  Him 


446  GREYSLAER; 


who  gave  it,  and  who  waited  in  humble  patience  for  the 
moment  of  its  recall. 

"  Yes,"  said  Greyslaer  on  the  day  that  he  was  at  last 
to  be  relieved  from  his  military  duties,  as  he  read  one  of 
those  passages  in  an  agony  of  emotion,  with  which  some 
thing  of  solace  was  still  intermingled,  "yes,  she  feels  her 
self  fading  into  the  grave.  Consumption — yet  Alida's  is 
not  the  soul  to  crumble  beneath  disease!  This  new-born 
gentleness  can  only  have  been  imparted  from  above.  Her 
bright  spirit  is  gathering  from  on  high  the  only  grace  it 
lacked  to  fit  it  for  that  blessed  sphere.  She  is  fading — 
fading  away  from  me  for  ever."  His  eyes  were  strained 
on  vacancy  as  he  spoke,  and  he  stood  with  arms  wildly 
outstretched,  as  if  to  arrest  some  beloved  phantom  which 
seemed  melting  before  them. 

The  starting  tears  had  scarcely  filled  those  eyes,  when 
a  comrade,  abruptly  breaking  into  his  quarters,  told  a 
tale  which  congealed  them  with  horror  where  they  stood. 
The  whole  nature  of  Max  Greyslaer,  the  gentle,  the  high- 
minded,  was  changed  within  him  from  that  very  moment. 

And  what  was  the  monstrous  tale  that  wrought  this 
change  upon  a  mind  so  well  attempered,  a  soul  so  stead 
fast,  a  heart  so  true  in  all  that  can  approve  its  worth  as 
was  that  of  Greyslaer  1  Had  fortune  still  a  test  in  store 
to  prove  the  love  that  never  wavered  ?  Had  fate,  from 
her  black  quiver,  thrown  a  shaft  that  even  love  itself,  in 
all  its  panoply,  could  not  repel  ? 

We  are  now  approaching  a  part  of  our  story  that  wre 
would  fain  pass  over  as  rapidly  as  possible,  for  the  de 
tails  are  most  painful  ;  so  painful,  so  revolting,  in  fact, 
that  we  cannot  bring  ourselves  to  do  more  than  touch 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  447 

upon  them  while  hurrying  on  to  the  catastrophe  which 
they  precipitated. 

Walter  Bradshawe,  as  we  have  seen,  was  convicted  as 
a  spy,  and  received  sentence  of  death  ;  but  a  mistaken 
lenity  prompted  his  reprieve  before  the  hour  of  execution 
arrived.  When  removed  to  Albany,  he  was  at  first 
closely  imprisoned  for  several  months  ;  but  the  secret 
Tories,  with  whom  the  capital  of  the  province  at  that 
time  abounded,  found  means  of  mitigating  the  rigor  of 
his  confinement,  and  even  of  enlisting  a  strong  interest 
in  his  behalf  among  some  of  the  most  influential  inhabi 
tants.  Bradshawe,  before  the  Revolution,  had  mingled 
intimately  in  the  society  of  the  place,  and  his  strongly- 
marked  character  had  made  both  friends  and  enemies 
in  the  social  circle.  His  present  political  situation  in 
creased  the  number  of  both,  and  both  were  now  equally 
active  in  the  endeavor  to  preserve  or  crush  him.  The 
royalists,  willing  to  keep  politics  entirely  out  of  view, 
appealed  only  to  private  and  personal  feelings  of  old  asso 
ciation  in  pleading  for  his  safety.  Some  of  the  patriots 
sternly  rejected  all  reference  to  a  state  of  things  which 
had  passed  away,  and  would  see  only  a  Tory  malignant 
and  detected  spy  in  their  former  neighbor.  But  others 
accepted  the  issue  which  was  offered  by  the  friends  of 
the  criminal,  and  indignantly  insisted  that  there  was 
nothing  in  his  private  character  which  should  make  him 
a  fit  subject  for  mercy.  The  whole  career  of  his  life 
was  ripped  up  from  the  time  when,  as  a  law  student  at 
Albany,  he  was  known  as  one  of  the  most  riotous  and 
reckless  youths  of  the  period — through  the  opening 
scenes  of  the  Revolution,  when  his  insolent  and  scan 
dalous  conduct,  on  more  than  one  occasion,  had  exas- 


448  GREYSLAEK; 


perated  the  minds  of  men  against  the  official  profligate — 
through  those  which  followed  the  outbreak  of  civil  dis 
cord,  when  his  aid  or  connivance  was  more  than  suspect 
ed  to  many  a  deed  of  ruthless  violence,  of  midnight 
burning,  of  bloodshed  and  cruelty — down  to  the  present 
time,  when  he  stood  a  convicted  criminal,  whose  life  had 
been  most  justly  forfeited. 

Men  stop  at  nothing  when  their  minds  are  once  excited 
in  times  so  frenzied  as  these ;  and  the  whole  story  of  the 
abduction  of  Miss  de  Roos  was  brought  up  as  testimony 
against  Bradshawe's  character,  with  every  particular  ex 
aggerated,  and  the  outrage  painted  in  every  color  which 
could  inspire  horror  at  its  enormity. 

Rumors  of  Greyslaer's  approaching  nuptials  with  the 
unhappy  lady  who  was  thus  made  the  general  subject  of 
conversation,  reached  the  ears  of  Bradshawe  while  chafing 
beneath  these  charges,  and  the  thought  of  the  misery  they 
would  inflict  upon  his  victims  might  have  been  sufficient 
even  for  his  revengeful  spirit ;  but  he  determined,  with  a 
hellish  ingenuity,  to  fling  the  imputation  of  the  outrage 
from  himself,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  plant  its  stigma  in 
an  aggravated  form  upon  her  whose  name  had  been  so 
recklessly  dragged  in  by  his  persecutors.  He  first  set 
afloat  insinuations  in  regard  to  the  parentage  of  the  half- 
blood  Indian  boy  who  had  long  been  an  inmate  of  the 
family  at  the  Hawksnest,  and  who  had  more  than  once 
visited  Albany  under  the  care  of  Alida,  whom  the  child 
so  much  resembled  !  And  then  he  boldly  proclaimed, 
that,  so  far  from  instigating  the  alleged  abduction  of  Miss 
de  Roos,  he  had  only,  out  of  respect  for  her  connections, 
aided  in  withdrawing  her  from  the  protection  of  Isaac 
Brant,  to  whom  she  had  fled  from  her  father's  halls  ! 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE     MOHAWK.  449 

A  conviction  of  the  nature  of  the  feelings — the  tortured 
and  blasted  feelings  which  had  prompted  the  tone  of  Ali- 
da's  letters,  flashed  electric  upon  the  mind  of  her  lover 
at  this  horrid  recital  ;  and  at  thought  of  his  betrothed — 
that  soul-stricken  and  cruelly  injured  girl — that  lady, 
most  deject  and  wretched — his  noble  and  most  sovereign 
reason — to  which  religion  had  ever  been  the  handmaid — 
was  quite  o'erthrown.  The  soldier's,  scholar's  eye,  tongue, 
sword,  quite — quite  down. 

In  a  word,  Max  Greyslaer,  as  we  have  already  said — 
Max,  the  gentle,  the  high-minded,  became  changed  in  soul 
on  the  instant.  The  prayerful  spirit  of  one  short  hour  ago 
vanished  before  the  new  divinity  that  usurped  its  place 
upon  the  altar  of  his  heart.  His  dream  of  submission  to 
the  will  of  Providence — the  tearful  resignation  which  his 
belief  in  Alida's  illness  inspired,  was  over,  lost,  swallowed 
up,  obliterated  in  the  wild  tempest  of  his  passions.  The 
fierce  lust  of  vengeance  shot  through  his  veins  and  agi 
tated  every  fibre  of  his  system ;  a  horrid  craving  seized 
his  heart — the  craving  for  the  blood  of  a  human  victim  ! 
And  had  Bradshawe  stood  near,  gifted  with  a  hundred 
lives,  Greyslaer  could,  one  by  one,  have  torn  them  all 
from  out  his  mortal  frame. 

The  object  of  his  vengeance  was  far  away,  but  Max 
Greyslaer  from  that  moment  was  not  less  in  thought — a 


MUKDRERER 


20* 


BOOK  SIXTH 


RETRIBUTION. 


"  Think  my  former  state  a  happy  dream 
From  which  awaked  the  truth  of  what  we  are 
Shows  me  but  this.     I  am  sworn  brother  now 
To  grim  necessity,  and  he  and  I 
Must  keep  a  league  with  death."  SHAKSPEARE. 

"  Miserable  creature, 
If  thou  persist  in  this  'tis  damnable. 
Dost  thou  imagine  thou  canst  slide  on  blood 
And  not  be  tainted  with  a  shameful  fate  ? 
Or,  like  the  black  and  melancholy  yew  tree, 
Dost  hope  to  root  thyself  in  dead  men's  graves 
And  yet  to  prosper  ?"  WEBSTER. 

"  Prosper  me  now  my  fate,  some  better  genius 
Than  such  as  wait  on  troubled  passions, 
Direct  my  courses  to  a  noble  issue. 

*         *         *         I  am  punished 
In  mine  own  hope  by  her  unlucky  fortune."  FORD. 

'  A  sin !  a  monstrous  sin !     Yet  with  it  many 
That  did  prove  good  men  often  have  been  tempted ; 
And  though  I'm  crooked  now,  'tis  in  your  power 
To  make  me  straight  again."  MASSINGEE. 


BOOK  SIXTH 

RETRIBUTION. 


CHAPTER    I. 


THE    AVENGER'S    JOURNEY. 

"  His  face  was  calmly  stern,  and  but  a  glare 
Within  his  eyes — there  was  no  feature  there 
That  told  what  lashing  fiends  his  inmates  were, 
Within — there  was  no  thought  to  bid  him  swerve 
From  his  intent ;  but  every  strained  nerve 
Was  settled  and  bent  up  with  terrible  force 
To  some  deep  deed  far,  far  beyond  remorse ; 
No  glimpse  of  mercy's  light  his  purpose  cross'd, 
Love,  nature,  pity,  in  its  depths  were  lost ; 
Or  lent  an  added  fury  to  the  ire 
That  seared  his  soul  with  unconsuming  fire." 

DRAKE. 

AN  acute  observer  of  human  nature  has  remarked, 
that  there  are  seasons  when  a  man  differs  not  less  from 
himself  than  he  does  at  other  times  from  all  other  men  ; 
and  certain  it  is  that  passion  will  often,  with  the  magic  of 
a  moment,  work  a  change  in  the  character  which  the  blind 
pressure  of  circumstances  throughout  long  years — the 
moulding  habits  of  an  ordinary  lifetime,  with  all  their  plas 
tic  power  above  the  human  heart,  could  never  have 
wrought  in  the  same  individual  who  undergoes  this  sud 
den  transformation. 


454  GREYSLAER 


An  hour  had  passed  away  with  Greyslaer  ;  an  hour 
of  frenzied  emotion.  And  one  such  hour  is  enough, 
with  a  man  of  deep,  intense,  and  concentrated  feelings, 
for  the  gust  of  passion  to  subside  into  the  stern  calmness 
of  resolve.  The  soldier  who  was  sent  to  summon  him  to 
the  mess-table  reported  that  Major  Greyslaer's  quarters 
were  vacant.  The  soldier  had  passed  the  major's  servant 
on  his  way  thither  to  pack  up  and  put  away  his  things,  as 
if  his  master  were  likely  to  be  long  absent.  The  servant 
himself  came  the  next  moment  to  say,  that  his  master, 
being  suddenly  called  away  from  the  post,  would  not  dine 
with  the  mess  that  day.  His  brother  officers,  though 
knowing  that  their  popular  comrade  had  lately  received 
a  long-expected  furlough,  were  still  surprised  at  this  ab 
rupt  departure ;  and  one  or  two  of  them  left  their  seats 
and  hurried  out  to  the  stables.  Greyslaer  stood  there 
with  a  cloak  and  valise  over  his  arm,  superintending  in 
person  the  equipment  of  his  horse  for  a  long  journey.  His 
cheek  was  pale,  his  eye  looked  sunken,  and  his  aspect 
altogether  was  that  of  one  who  had  for  the  first  time  ven 
tured  forth  after  a  long  and  serious  illness  ;  yet  there  was 
no  fever  about  his  eyes ;  they  were  rather,  indeed,  dull, 
cold,  and  glassy. 

The  officers,  who  simultaneously  uttered  a  cry  of  sur 
prise  at  the  strange  alteration  in  the  appearance  of  their 
friend  since  the  morning,  were — they  hardly  knew  why — 
instantly  silenced  by  Greyslaer's  manner  as  he  turned 
round  to  answer  their  salutation.  They  had  come  there, 
impelled  by  motives  of  friendly  curiosity,  to  ask  why  he 
broke  away  so  suddenly  from  their  society.  They  now 
stood  as  if  they  had  forgotten  their  errand  ;  mute  lookers- 
on,  whom  some  mvsterious  influence  withheld  from  ex- 


A     ROMANCE     OF     THE    MOHAWK.  455 

pressing  their  emotions  even  by  a  sympathetic  glance  with 
each  other.  When  all  was  ready,  Greyslaer  threw  him 
self  into  the  saddle,  murmured  something  about  his  having 
already  taken  his  leave  of  the  colonel,  and,  as  the  two 
officers  thought  they  remembered  afterward,  left  some 
words  of  kind  farewell  for  others  of  the  mess.  But  the 
ghastly  appearance  of  Greyslaer,  the  icy  coldness  of  the 
hand  he  gave  them  to  shake,  and  his  strangely  unnatural 
and  statue-like  appearance  as  he  slowly  moved  off  unat 
tended,  struck  a  chilling  amazement  into  the  hearts  of  his 
friends,  that  left  them  perfectly  stupefied  for  the  moment. 
They  had  broken  away  from  the  table  to  take  a  cordial 
farewell  of  one  whose  generous,  soldierly  temperament, 
not  less  than  his  brilliant  social  qualities,  had  made  him 
the  pride  and  delight  of  the  mess.  The  marble  figure 
with  which  they  but  now  parted  wore,  indeed,  the  linea 
ments  of  their  friend,  but  was  a  perfect  stranger  to  their 
hearts.  The  very  voice,  they  swore,  never  did  belong  to 
Max  Greyslaer.  As  for  the  soldiers,  many  of  whom  were 
recruited  from  among  the  superstitious  Scotch  and  Ger 
man  settlers  of  the  neighboring  mountains,  they  fully  be 
lieved  that  some  evil  spirit  of  the  heathenish  Indians  had 
wrought  this  sudden  and  mysterious  change  in  the  whole 
look  and  bearing  of  their  favorite  officer ;  and,  alas  !  it 
was  but  too  true  that  the  direst  of  pagan  deities  had  taken 
up  her  abode  in  the  heart  of  Max  Greyslaer. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  horseman  who  furnished  so  earn 
est  a  theme  for  those  whom  he  had  left  behind,  slowly  but 
steadily  pursued  his  journey.  His  horse,  from  the  regular, 
mechanical  gait  he  adopted,  seemed  to  know  that  a  long 
road  was  before  him.  The  patient  roadster  and  his  mo 
tionless  rider  were  long  seen  from  the  battlements  of  Fort 


556  GREYSLAER; 


Stanwix,  though  the  evening  shadows  of  the  adjacent 
woods  snatched  them  more  than  once  from  view  before 
they  finally  glided  like  an  apparition  into  the  silent  forest. 

There  was  no  moon,  but  the  stars  shone  brightly  above 
him  as  Greyslaer  crossed  the  fatal  field  of  Oriskany.  His 
horse  snuffing  the  air,  which,  in  the  warm,  moist  night  of 
teeming  springtime,  stole  out  from  the  tainted  earth,  first 
reminded  him  of  the  scene  of  slaughter  over  which  he 
was  riding.  He  passed  the  tree  beneath  which  the  remains 
of  DeRoos  had  been  laid.  He  did  not  shudder.  He  gave 
no  tear  to  the  recollection  of  the  past,  neither  did  one 
thought  arise  to  rebuke  the  memory  of  his  early  friend  for 
present  sorrows.  He  did  not  even  envy  him  the  repose  of 
his  woodland  grave.  He  only  looked  coldly  upon  the  spot 
as  a  mere  landmark  of  Fate,  where  one  breathing  being, 
warm  with  life  and  intelligence,  had  found  his  allotted 
bourne  ;  and  why  ponder  upon  a  doom  common  to  all — 
fixed,  predetermined,  and  to  which  he  himself,  as  he  be 
lieved,  was  then  moving  at  such  a  cold,  passionless  pace  ? 

It  was  long  after  midnight  before  Greyslaer  halted,  and 
it  was  then  only  for  the  purpose  of  refreshing  his  steed. 
The  dawn  found  him  again  upon  his  journey,  and,  by 
changing  his  horse  for  a  fresher  one,  he  reached  the 
Hawksnest  before  evening.  His  original  determination 
led  him  direct  to  Albany,  where  Bradshawe  was  still  un 
der  durance  ;  but  when  he  found  himself  in  the  neighbor 
hood  of  his  homestead,  and  obliged  to  halt  for  a  few  hours 
from  the  impossibility  of  getting  another  relay,  he  felt 
himself  irresistibly  prompted  to  make  a  secret  visit  to  the 
premises.  He  did  not  intend  to  have  an  interview  with 
A.lida,  but  he  must  look  upon  the  house  which  held  her. 

He  approached  the  domain,  and  all  was  silent.     It  was 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE     MOHAWK.  457 

too  early  yet,  perhaps,  for  lights  to  show  through  the  case 
ment  ;  but,  if  there  had  been  any  there,  Greyslaer  could 
not  have  seen  them,  for  every  shutter  was  closed. 
There  was  no  smoke  from  the  chimneys,  around  which  the 
swallows  clustered,  as  huddling  there  to  an  unmolested 
roost.  Max  had  never  seen  the  home  of  his  fathers  look 
so  desolate.  With  quickening  pace  he  advanced  to  the 
hall  door  and  tried  the  latch  ;  but  in  vain,  for  the  bolts  had 
been  drawn  within.  He  knocked,  and  the  sound  came 
hollowly  to  his  ears,  as  we  always  fancy  it  does  from  an  un- 
tenanted  mansion.  He  walked  to  the  end  of  the  verandah, 
and,  glancing  rapidly  round  among  the  outhouses,  which 
stood  off  at  one  wing  of  the  main  building,  observed  some 
poultry  at  roost  among  a  cluster  of  pear  and  locust  trees 
which  nearly  encircled  the  kitchen.  Their  presence  sug 
gested  him  to  apply  to  the  only  spot  where  these  feathered 
dependants  could  now  look  for  their  food.  He  approached 
the  kitchen — a  small,  Dutch-built  building  of  brick — and 
rapped  against  the  window  before  trying  the  door.  A 
gray-headed  negress,  protruding  her  head  through  a  nar 
row  window  in  one  of  the  gables,  at  length  greeted  his 
ears  with  the  sound  of  a  human  voice. 

"  Who's  dere  ?"  she  cried,  in  a  quick  tone  of  alarm. 

"It  is  I — Master  Max,  Dinah." 

"  Lorrah,  massy,  be't  you  for  sartain,  or  only  your 
spook  ?" 

"  No  spook,  my  good  Dinah,  but  my  living  self.  Come 
down  and  let  me  in." 

"  Me  mighty  glad  to  see  you,  massy,"  said  the  negress, 
lighting  a  candle,  after  she  had  unbolted  the  door  to  Grey 
slaer  ;  "  for  Dinah  go  to  bed  when  they  leib  her  all  alone, 
so  that  she  not  see  the  spook.  But.  Lorrah,  Mass  Max, 


458  GREYSLAER; 


how  berry  old  he  look.  He  pale,  too,  as  spook,"  added 
the  slave,  shading  the  candle  partly  with  her  hand  as  she 
peered  into  her  young  master's  features. 

"  But  where  are  all  my  people  ?     Where  is  Miss " 

"De  boys — all  de  boys,  massy,  has  gone  to  de  village  to 
hold  a  corn-dance  for  seed-time.  De  house-keeper,  you 
know,  lib  at  de  oberseer's  down  in  the  lane  eber  since  she 
shut  up  the  great  house  after  Miss  Alida  went  away." 

"And  where  has  Miss  Alida  gone?"  said  Greyslaer, 
with  unnatural  calmness,  as  he  caught  hold  of  the  back  of 
a  chair  to  steady  himself;  for,  of  a  truth,  he  for  a  moment 
feared  that  Alida,  stung  to  madness  by  the  cruel  nature  of 
her  sorrows,  might  have  hurried  upon  some  tragic  fate,  he 
scarcely  knew  what. 

The  answer  of  the  old  servant  took  an  instant  load  from 
his  bosom.  Miss  Alida,  she  said,  had  taken  the  little  boy 
with  her  and  gone  to  Albany  near  a  month  since.  "  She 
grew  thin  and  looked  mighty  sorrowful  before  she  went, 
and  it  made  our  hearts  bleed  to  see  her,  Mass  Max,"  said  the 
faithful  black  ;  "  and,  though  we  were  all  cast  down  like 
when  we  saw  her  pack  up  her  things  to  go  away,  yet  we 
thought  it  might  be  better  for  young  missus  to  go  where 
there  were  more  white  folks  to  cheer  her  up." 

Greyslaer  made  no  answer,  but,  asking  for  the  key  of 
the  house,  lighted  a  stable-lantern,  and  telling  Dinah  that 
he  should  not  want  her  attendance,  entered  the  deserted 
house.  He  gained  the  parlor,  which  had  beheld  the  last 
ill-omened  parting  of  the  lovers,  so  sad  yet  so  sweet  with 
al.  The  room  looked  much  the  same  as  when  last  he  left 
it,  save  that  there  were  no  fresh-gathered  flowers  upon  the 
mantel-piece,  and  some  few  slight  articles  belonging  to 
Alida  had  been  removed.  He  placed  the  lantern  upon  a 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  459 

» _ — . 

table  and  opened  its  door  ;  for  the  flickering  light,  dancing 
upon  one  or  two  portraits  with  which  the  walls  were 
hung,  gave  them  a  sort  of  fitful  life  that  was  aanoying. 
He  wished  to  renlize  fully  that  he  was  alone.  He  looked 
around  to  see  if  there  were  no  memento  or  trace  of  the 
last  hours  which  Alida  had  passed  in  the  same  chamber. 
A  little  shawl,  thrown  carelessly  across  the  arm  of  a  sofa, 
met  his  eye.  He  took  it  up,  looked  at  it,  and  knew  it  to 
be  Alida's.  It  had  probably  been  flung  there  and  forgot 
ten  in  the  hasty  moment  of  departure.  Greyslaer  had 
never  been  what,  in  modern  parlance,  is  called  "  a  lady's 
man ;"  and  though  he  could  sometimes  tell  one  article  of 
dress  from  another,  he  was  wholly  unskilled  in  the  effemi 
nate  knowledge  and  toilet-like  arts  which  distinguish  that 
enviable  class  of  our  sex.  It  was  curious,  therefore,  to 
see  him  stand  and  fold  this  scarf  with  the  utmost  nicety 
and  neatness.  He  handled  it,  indeed,  like  something  pre 
cious  ;  and,  from  the  delicacy  with  which  he  pressed  it  to 
his  lips  before  placing  it  in  his  bosom,  he  seemed  to  imag 
ine  the  senseless  fabric  imbued  with  life  ;  but  all  his  mo 
tions  now  were  like  those  of  one  who  moves  in  a  dream. 

At  last  he  took  up  the  lantern  to  retire  from  the  apart 
ment,  so  desolate  in  itself,  yet  peopled  with  so  many  haunt 
ing  memories.  A  letter,  which  had  been  unobserved  when 
he  placed  it  there,  lay  beneath  it.  Max  read  the  super 
scription  ;  it  was  addressed  to  himself,  and  in  the  hand 
writing  of  Alida.  He  broke  the  seal,  and  read  as  follows  : 

"You  will  probably,  before  reading  this,  have  surmised 
the  cause  why  I  have  withdrawn  from  beneath  a  roof 
which  has  never  sheltered  dishonor.  Oh  !  my  friend — if 
so  the  wretched  Alida  may  still  call  you — you  cannot 
dream  of  what  I  have  suffered  while  delaying  the  execu- 


460  GREYSLAER; 


tion  of  a  step  which  I  believe  to  be  due  alike  to  you  and 
to  myself;  but  the  state  of  my  health  would  not  sooner 
admit  of  putting  my  determination  into  execution,  and  I 
knew  there  would  be  full  time  for  me  to  retire  before  you 
could  come  back  to  assume  the  government  of  your  house 
hold.  That  determination  is  never  to  see  you  more.  Yes, 
Greyslaer,  we  are  parted,  and  for  ever.  The  meshes  of 
villainy  which  have  been  woven  around  me  it  is  impossible 
to  disentangle.  My  woman's  name  is  blasted  beyond  all 
hope  of  retrieval,  and  yours  shall  never  be  involved  in  its 
disgrace.  I  ask  you  not  to  believe  me  innocent.  I  have 
no  plea,  no  proof  to  offer.  I  submit  to  the  chastening  hand 
of  Providence.  I  make  no  appeal  to  the  love  whose  tried 
and  generous  offices  might  mitigate  this  dreadful  visitation. 
I  would  have  you  think  of  me  and  my  miserable  concerns 
no  more.  God  bless  you,  Max  !  God  bless  and  keep  you  ; 
keep  you  from  the  devices  of  a  proud  and  arrogant  spirit, 
which  Heaven,  in  its  wisdom,  hath  so  severely  scourged 
in  me  ;  keep  you  from  that  bitterest  of  all  reflections,  the 
awful  conviction  that  your  rebellious  heart  has  fully  mer 
ited  the  severest  judgment  of  its  Maker.  God  bless  and 
keep  you,  dearest,  dearest  Max.  A.  D.  R." 

The  features  of  Greyslaer  betrayed  no  emotion  as  he 
read  this  letter  the  first,  the  second,  and  even  the  third 
time,  for  thrice  did  he  peruse  it  before  he  became  fully 
master  of  its  contents;  and  even  then,  from  the  vacant 
gaze  which  he  fixed  upon  its  characters,  it  would  seem  as 
if  his  mind  were  by  no  means  earnestly  occupied  with 
what  it  contained.  He  laid  it  down  upon  the  table,  paced 
to  and  fro  leisurely  through  the  chamber,  paused,  took  up 
some  trivial  article  from  the  mantelpiece,  examined  it,  and 
replaced  it  as  carefully  as  if  his  thoughts  were  intent  only 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  461 

upon  the  trifles  of  the  moment.  He  returned  to  the  table, 
yet  again  took  up  the  letter,  and  slightly  shivering  as  he 
came  to  the  close  of  it,  turned  his  eyes  upward,  while  the 
paper,  which  he  held  at  arm's  length,  trembled  in  his  hands, 
as  if  he  were  suddenly  seized  with  an  ague-fit.  "  God  of 
Heaven  !"  he  cried,  "  I  cannot,  I  dare  not  pray  ;  yet  thou 
only — "  he  paused,  and  shuddered  still  more  frightfully,  as 
his  lips  seemed  almost  unwittingly  about  to  syllable  the 
prayerful  thoughts  which,  rising  from  a  heart  tenanted 
as  his  was  by  a  murderer's  vow,  would  be  a  mockery,  an 
insult  to  Heaven.  Tears — the  first  resource  of  woman, 
the  last  relief  of  man — burst  that  moment  from  his  eyes, 
and  alleviated  a  struggle  so  powerful  as  to  threaten  instant 
madness  to  its  half-convulsed  subject.  The  sufferer  buried 
his  face  in  his  hands,  and,  throwing  himself  on  the  sofa, 
wept  long  and  passionately.  Let  no  man  sneer  at  his 
weakness,  unless  he  has  once  loved  as  did  Greyslaer  ;  un 
less  that  love  has  been  blasted  as  his  was  ;  unless  he  has 
felt  himself  the  victim  of  an  iron  destiny,  when  the  heart, 
softened  by  years  of  unchanging  tenderness,  was  least  fit 
ted  to  bear  up  under  the  doom  to  which  he  must  yield  ! 
Greyslaer  knew  the  singular  firmness,  the  inflexible  deter 
mination  of  Alida's  character.  He  believed,  as  she  did, 
that  it  was  now  impossible  to  wipe  away  the  reproach 
that  attached  to  her  name.  She  had  declared  her  resolu 
tion.  He  felt  that  he  would  see  her  no  more. 

And  was  there,  then,  it  may  be  asked,  no  doubt  in  the 
mind  of  Max,  no  shadowy  but  still  poignant  doubt,  no 
latent  and  subtle  suspicion  of  the  truth  of  his  mistress  ? 
No  momentary  weighing  of  testimony  as  to  what  might 
be  the  real  circumstances  of  Alida's  story  ? 

Not  one  !  even  for  a  moment — not  one  disloyal  thought 


462  GREYSLAER; 


to  the  majesty  of  her  virtue  ;  not  one  blaspheming  doubt 
to  the  holiness  of  her  truth ;  no,  never — never  for  the 
breath  of  an  instant,  had  an  unhallowed  suspicion  of  Ali- 
da's  maiden  purity  crossed  the  mind  of  her  lover  !  Grey- 
slaer  himself  was  all  truth  and  nobleness  !  How  could  so 
mean  and  miserable  a  thought  have  found  entrance  into  a 
soul  like  his,  regarding  one  as  high-strung  as  itself,  and 
with  which  it  had  once  mingled  in  full  and  rich  accord  ? 
Besides,  the  love  of  a  feeling  and  meditative  mind  ;  the 
love  that,  born  in  youth,  survives  through  the  perilous 
trials  of  early  manhood,  with  all  the  warm  yet  holy  flush 
of  its  dawn  tincturing  its  fondness,  and  all  the  soberer  and 
fuller  light  of  its  noontide  testing  without  impairing  its 
esteem — such  a  love  becomes  as  much  a  part  of  a  man's 
nature,  mingles  as  intimately  with  his  being,  as  the  very 
life-blood  that  channels  through  his  veins  ;  and  to  doubt 
the  purity  of  her  who  inspires  it  were  as  deathful  as  to 
admit  a  poison  into  the  vital  fluids  of  his  system.  Such 
love  may  languish  in  hopelessness,  may  wither  in  despair, 
may  die  at  last — like  the  winter-starved  bird  of  Indian 
fable,  who  melted  into  a  song,  which,  they  say,  is  still 
sometimes  heard  in  his  accustomed  haunts — but  it  never 
can  admit  one  moment's  doubt  of  the  worthiness  of  its  ob 
ject. 

The  gush  of  passionate  emotion  to  which  the  unhappy 
Max  had  abandoned  himself,  had  at  last  its  end.  And  as 
these  were  the  first  tears  which  he  had  shed  in  years — 
for  his  frenzied  ravings  in  the  hour  when  he  first  received 
the  cruel  blow  to  his  happiness  had  had  no  such  relief — 
they  were  followed  by  a  calmness  of  mind  far  more  natu 
ral  than  that  which  he  had  recently  known.  Even  the 
old  negress,  who  had  sat  up  watching  for  him,  pipe  in 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.          463 

mouth,  by  the  kitchen  fire,  where  she  had  raked  a  few 
embers  together,  could  not  but  observe  the  difference  in 
his  appearance  while  commenting  upon  the  fixed  air  of 
sadness  which  her  young  master  still  wore.  Greyslaer, 
who,  even  at  such  a  time,  was  not  forgetful  of  the  humble 
dependants  upon  his  bounty,  handed  the  old  woman  a  few 
shillings  to  replenish  her  store  of  tobacco,  the  only  luxury 
left  to  her  age  and  infirmity ;  and,  leaving  a  trifle  or  two 
for  the  other  servants,  took  a  kind  leave  of  old  Dinah,  and 
returned  to  the  inn  where  he  had  left  his  horse.  The 
gray  of  the  morning  found  him  once  more  upon  the  road  ; 
and  before  sunset  the  spires  of  Schenectady,  the  last  vil 
lage  he  was  to  pass  through  before  reaching  Albany,  rose 
to  his  view.  But  we  must  now  leave  him  to  look  after 
other  personages  of  our  story. 


464  GREYSLAER; 


CHAPTER    II. 


THE    NIGHT    ATTEMPT. 


'  This  rope  secures  the  boat.    Be  still, 
Though  sounds  should  rise  the  heart  to  chill — 
If  coming  feet  should  meet  thine  ear, 
And  I  am  silent,  do  not  fear ; 
For  I've  another  task  in  view." 

J.  K.  MITCHELL. 


WALTER  BRADSHAWE,  whose  long  incarceration  at  Al 
bany  has  been  already  commemorated,  had,  through  the 
intercession  of  friends  and  the  clemency  of  those  in  power, 
been  transferred  from  the  common  jail  of  the  town  where 
he  was  first  imprisoned,  to  a  sort  of  honorary  durance  in 
the  guarded  chamber  of  an  ordinary  dwelling-house. 

The  building  in  which  he  was  now  confined  was  situated 
near  the  water-side,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town,  having 
a  garden  in  the  rear  running  down  to  the  quay.  The  room 
appropriated  to  Bradshawe  was  in  the  second  story,  at  the 
back  of  the  house,  and  immediately  at  the  head  of  the  first 
flight  of  stairs.  At  the  foot  of  this  staircase,  and  within 
a  few  yards  of  the  outer  door,  which  opened  upon  the 
street,  was  posted  a  sentinel. 

As  month  after  month  flew  by,  and  still  greater  indul 
gences  were  granted  to  Bradshawe  with  the  prolongation 
of  his  imprisonment,  the  duty  of  this  sentinel  became  at 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  465 

last  so  much  a  matter  of  mere  form,  that  it  was  customary 
often  to  place  a  new  recruit  with  a  musket  in  his  hands  in 
the  place  which  was,  in  the  first  instance,  occupied  by 
some  veteran  soldier  of  trust  and  confidence.  This  re 
laxation  of  vigilance  was,  of  course,  not  unobserved  by 
the  friends  of  the  prisoner,  if,  in  fact,  it  was  not  procured 
by  their  agency;  and,  upon  intelligence  being  conveyed 
to  Valtmeyer  how  things  were  situated,  he  immediately 
planned  the  escape  of  Bradshawe,  and  selected  a  shrewd 
and  trusty  follower  (an  old  acquaintance  of  the  reader) 
to  assist  him  in  the  project. 

Syl  Stickney,  therefore,  according  to  previous  arrange 
ment,  succeeded  in  making  his  way  into  the  city  of  Albany 
in  the  guise  of  a  Helderberg  peasant ;  and,  after  lounging 
about  the  streets  for  a  few  days,  he  allowed  himself  to  be 
picked  up  by  a  sergeant's  patrol,  and  carried  to  a  recruit 
ing  station,  where,  without  much  difficulty,  he  was  per 
suaded  to  enlist  in  the  patriot  army.  Valtmeyer,  in  the 
mean  time,  hovered  around  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  and 
was  advised  of  all  Stickney's  movements  through  the 
agency  of  several  disaffected  persons  of  condition,  who, 
though  in  secret  among  the  most  active  partisans  of  the 
royal  cause,  still  kept  up  appearances  sufficiently  to  enjoy 
an  easy  position  in  society,  and  who  had  almost  daily  ac 
cess  to  the  prisoner  upon  the  mere  footing  of  former 
general  acquaintance. 

Many  days  had  not  passed  before  the  Helderberg  recruit 
was  placed  as  sentinel  before  the  door  of  Bradshawe's 
quarters,  and  it  was  easily  ascertained  when  his  tour  of 
4uty  would  come  round  a  second  time.  Valtmeyer  was 
on  the  alert  to  avail  himself  of  the  opportunity. 

Entering  the   city  of  Albany  by  the  southern   suburbs, 
21 


466  GREYSLAER; 


this  daring  partisan  succeeded  one  night  in  throwing  him 
self,  with  a  party  of  followers  as  desperate  as  himself,  into 
a  stable  which  stood  near  the  edge  of  the  river,  where 
they  lay  concealed  in  the  hayloft  through  the  whole  of  the 
following  day.  With  the  approach  of  the  next  evening — 
the  time  fixed  upon  for  the  proposed  rescue — a  canoe,  pad 
dled  by  a  single  negro,  crept  along  the  bank  of  the  river 
from  the  islands  below,  and  was  moored  within  a  few 
yards  of  the  stable.  This  canoe  was  appropriated  to  the 
escape  of  Bradshawe ;  but  the  plotting  brain  of  Valt- 
meyer,  which  could  not  remain  idle  during  the  long  hours 
that  he  was  obliged  to  lie  quiet  in  his  lurking-place,  con 
trived  a  still  further  use  for  it. 

The  stable  in  which  he  chanced  to  have  taken  post  was 
situate  at  the  foot  of  a  garden  upon  the  premises  occupied 
by  a  zealous  Whig,  and  one  of  the  most  efficient  members 
of  the  Albany  Council  of  Safety,  being  a  man,  indeed, 
whose  firmness,  vigilance,  and  unwearied  activity  in  the 
Whig  cause  made  him  second  only  to  General  Schuyler 
among  the  most  valuable  citizens  of  Albany  in  those  times. 
Mr.  Taylor — for  that  energetic  Revolutionary  partisan 
and  subsequently  distinguished  civilian  was  the  person  in 
question — was  particularly  obnoxious  to  the  Johnson  family 
for  the  part  he  had  acted  in  expelling  some  of  its  members 
from  the  province :  and  the  daring  genius  of  Valtmeyer 
kindled  with  the  idea  of  conveying  him  off  a  captive  to 
Sir  John.  In  fact,  though  the  success  of  Bradshawe's 
escape  must  be  endangered  by  connecting  it  with  such  an 
attempt,  yet  Valtmeyer,  when,  from  his  lurking-place,  he 
several  times  throughout  the  day  caught  sight  of  the  Whig 
councillor  moving  about,  unconscious  of  danger,  over  his 
own  grounds,  could  not  resist  the  temptation. 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  467 

The  famous  Joe  Bettys,  who  had  associated  himself  with 
this  expedition,  did  his  best  to  dissuade  his  daring  comrade 
from  this  project  until  they  got  the  head  of  Bradshawe 
fairly  out  of  the  lion's  mouth  ;  but  Valtmeyer  insisted  that 
no  time  was  so  fit  as  the  present;  for,  the  moment  Brad 
shawe  was  missed,  such  precautions  would  be  taken  that 
they  could  not  venture  into  so  perilous  a  neighborhood 
again.  He  knew,  he  said,  that  Bradshawe  would  damn 
him  if  he  let  such  a  chance  go  by.  It  was  agreed,  there 
fore,  that  Bettys  should  go  alone  to  guide  Bradshawe 
down  to  the  boat,  where  Valtmeyer  promised  that  he 
would  meet  him  with  his  prisoner  when  the  turning  of  the 
tide  should  enable  them  to  drop  down  the  stream  most 
easily. 

The  attempt  to  seize  Mr.  Taylor — as  we  know  from  the 
annals  of  the  period — failed  through  one  of  those  incidents 
which,  seeming  so  trivial  in  themselves,  are  still  so  im 
portant  in  their  consequences  that  they  cannot  but  be  con 
sidered  providential.  But  the  results  of  that  failure  are 
most  intimately  connected  with  the  course  of  our  story. 

The  clock  of  the  old  Dutch  church  which  stood  in  the 
centre  of  State  street,  struck  the  hour  of  midnight  when 
Bettys  departed  to  attend  to  his  share  in  the  perilous  ope 
rations  of  the  night.  Leaving  him,  for  the  present,  to 
make  his  way  to  the  quarters  of  Bradshawe.  we  must  in 
the  meanwhile  attend  to  the  proceedings  of  his  brother 
brigand. 

It  was  the  intention  of  Valtmeyer  to  effect  an  entrance 
into  Mr.  Taylor's  house  with  as  little  disturbance  as  possi 
ble,  and  to  seize  and  bear  away  the  master  of  the  house 
hold  to  the  canoe  at  the  foot  of  his  garden.  But,  though 
the  family  hnd.  from  appearances,  alroady  retired  for  the 


468  GREYSLAER; 


night,  he  meant  to  defer  the  attempt  until  Bettys  had  made 
good  his  retreat  to  the  water-side  with  Bradshawe.  It 
chanced,  however,  that  scarcely  ten  minutes  after  Bettys 
had  left  his  comrades,  their  attention  was  excited  by  a 
noise  at  the  door  in  the  rear  of  the  house  which  precipi 
tated  their  movements. 

A  chain  falling,  the  clanging  of  an  iron  bar,  and  the 
grating  of  a  heavy  bolt  as  it  was  withdrawn,  showed  that 
the  only  door  through  which  they  could  hope  for  ingress 
was  guarded  and  secured  by  precautions  which,  though 
not  unusual  in  private  buildings  at  that  period,  seem  not  to 
have  been  anticipated  by  Valtmeyer  in  the  present  instance. 
There  was  evidently  some  one  about  to  come  out  into  the 
yard.  Valtmeyer  hoped  that  it  might  be  the  councillor 
himself;  if  not,  he  determined,  in  any  event,  that  the  occa 
sion  must  not  be  lost  of  effecting  an  entrance  through  the 
open  door. 

Age  or  caution  seemed  to  make  the  forthcoming  person 
very  slow  in  his  movements  ;  but  the  door  moved  at  last 
upon  its  hinges,  and  the  dull  light  of  a  stable  lantern  fall 
ing  across  the  threshold,  revealed  only  the  form  of  an  old 
black  servant,  who,  with  creeping  step,  was  moving  for 
ward  into  the  yard. 

The  Tories,  thinking  the  moment  for  action  had  arrived, 
sprang  impetuously  forward  to  seize  the  negro.  But, 
though  the  sudden  rush  had  nearly  effected  their  object, 
the  movement  was  premature  ;  for  the  negro,  startled  at 
the  first  noise  of  their  onset,  dropped  his  lantern,  scuttled 
back  across  the  threshold,  and  shot  the  bolt  of  the  door  just 
as  the  foremost  assailant  reached  it.  Valtmeyer  gnashed 
his  teeth  with  rage  as  he  heard  the  faithful  fellow  tugging 
at  the  chain  and  bar,  still  further  to  secure  it  within,  while 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  469 

his  cries  at  the  same  time  summoned  the  family  to  his  aid. 
The  next  moment  there  came  a  pistol-shot  from  a  window  ; 
and  the  Tories,  seeing  now  that  the  whole  neighborhood 
would  be  alarmed,  retreated  to  their  boat  as  rapidly  as 
possible. 

The  canoe  was  easily  gained ;  but  now  what  to  do  in 
the  predicament  in  which  he  had  placed  himself  puzzled 
even  the  fertile  brain  of  Valtmeyer.  To  remain  where 
he  was,  exposed  all  his  party  to  seizure,  for  the  whole  town 
must  be  alarmed  in  a  very  few  moments ;  yet  to  depart  at 
once  must  jeopard,  fatally  perhaps,  the  lives  of  both  Brad- 
shawe  and  Bettys,  not  to  mention  that  of  the  false  senti 
nel,  who,  it  was  supposed,  would  come  off  with  them. 
Valtmeyer  did  not  hesitate  long;  and  his  decision,  though 
attended  with  no  benefit  to  his  absent  allies,  was  still  the 
best  that  could  be  made  in  the  premises.  He  determined  to 
lighten  his  canoe,  and,  at  the  same  time,  effect  a  diversion 
in  case  of  pursuit,  by  sending  all  his  followers,  save  him 
self,  to  make  their  retreat  along  the  river's  bank  by  land, 
in  the  same  way  they  had  entered  the  town.  He  then, 
with  wary  paddle,  commenced  creeping  along  shore  up 
the  river,  so  as  to  approach  the  place  of  Bradshawe's 
confinement,  which  was  toward  the  other  extremity  of  the 
town. 

Let  us  now  follow  the  doughty  Joe  Bettys  upon  his 
mission. 

The  duty  of  this  worthy  confrere  of  Valtmeyer,  though 
perilous,  was  sufficiently  plain.  He  had  only  to  ascertain 
that  the  Tory  sentinel  was  at  his  post,  and  make  him  aware 
that  he  himself  was  near,  when  Bradshawe,  who  knew 
the  minutest  arrangement  of  the  plot  for  his  relief,  would 
at  once  emerge  from  his  quarters  and  follow  Bettys'  guid- 


470  IrREYSLAER: 


ance.  Their  first  movement  would  be  to  make  for  the 
river;  for  there  lay  their  means  of  escape,  and  there  the 
piles  of  timber,  of  which  Albany  was  ever  a  great  mart, 
afforded  the  best  opportunity  for  present  concealment,  if 
it  should  be  necessary. 

And  thus,  indeed,  every  circumstance,  like  those  of  a 
well  rehearsed  play,  might  have  succeeded  each  other, 
were  it  not  for  the  intrusion  of  a  most  unexpected  actor 
upon  the  scene. 

The  first  intimation  which  Bettys  had  of  such  interfer 
ence  was  from  the  stupid  exclamation  of  surprise  which 
his  appearance  drew  from  the  disguised  sentinel  as  he  en 
countered  him  upon  entering  the  hall.  Stickney,  who 
might  have  just  awakened  from  a  nap  upon  a  bench  which 
stood  near,  was  supporting  his  staggering  limbs  against  the 
bannister,  and  seemed  to  be  listening,  half  awake,  to  some 
noise  in  the  room  at  the  head  of  the  stairs.  Upon  the  en 
trance  of  Bettys,  he  turned  round  sharply,  and,  catching 
at  his  musket,  which  leaned  against  the  wall,  seemed  dis 
posed  to  dispute  the  passage  with  him. 

"  Softly,  Syl,"  cried  the  wary  Joe  ;  "  you  needn't  act 
the  drunken  man  so  far  as  to  run  me  through  by  mistake. 
Why,  zounds  !  the  infernal  rascal's  dead  drunk  in  earnest ; 
sewed  up  completely,  by" — he  added,  with  an  angry  oath, 
as  he  advanced  and  collared  him. 

*  Aint  in  liquor — more — than — my — duty — requires," 
hiccoughed  Sylla  ;  "  for  didn't  I  see — you — with  my — 
eyes — shut — come  in  that  door  and  go  up  stairs — but  ten 
minutes — ago  ?" 

"  Me — me,  you  lying,  drunken  rascal !  Saw  me  ?  An 
swer  quickly,  or  I'll  shake  the  life  out  of  you." 

"If  I  didn't,  may  I  never — touch — adropof  g>od  liquor 


A     ROMANCE     OF     THE     MOHA'VTK.  471 

again.  By  Goy  !"  ejaculated  Stickney,  finishing  his  as 
severations  with  a  stupid  stare,"!  believe  I  am  drunk; 
for,  if  this  be  raaly  Leftenant  Joe  Bettys,  I've  seen  double 
at  least  once  to-night.  The  fellow  that  went  up  stair  — " 
Bettys  waited  to  hear  no  more,  but  hurled  his  sottish 
follower  from  him  with  a  force  that  sent  him  reeling  to 
the  farther  end  of  the  hall.  The  noise  the  man  made  in 
falling  brought  the  owner  of  the  mansion  instantly  to  his 
door ;  but  he  only  opened  it  far  enough  to  thrust  out  his 
head,  and  cast  a  furtive  and  anxious  glance  at  Bettys  as 
the  latter  rushed  up  the  stairs,  when,  seeming  to  think  for 
the  moment  that  all  was  right,  he  drew  back  and  locked 
his  apartment.  And  we  too  must  now  leave  Bettys  upon 
the  threshold  of  Bradshawe's  room,  to  look  after  another 
of  those  who  were  most  deeply  concerned  in  the  deeds 
of  this  eventful  night. 


472  GEEYSLAEB; 


CHAPTER    III. 


T  HE    RENCONTRE. 


'  Ay,  curse  him — but  keep 

The  poor  boon  of  his  breath 
Till  he  sigh  for  the  sleep 

And  the  quiet  of  death ! 
Let  a  viewless  one  haunt  him 

With  whisper  and  jeer, 
And  an  evil  one  daunt  him 
"With  phantoms  of  fear." 

WHITTIER. 


IT  chanced,  then,  that,  in  the  very  hour  appointed  for 
carrying  into  execution  the  bold  project  which  we  have 
thus  far  traced,  Max  Greyslaer,  bent  on  his  errand  of 
murderous  vengeance,  entered  the  city  of  Albany  by  the 
Schenectady  road,  and,  leaving  his  horse  at  a  wagoner's 
inn  in  the  suburbs,  penetrated  on  foot  into  the  heart  of  the 
town.  He  had  possessed  himself,  while  at  Schenectady, 
of  every  particular  relating  to  the  place  of  Bradshawe's 
imprisonment,  and  of  the  nature  of  the  guard  that  was 
kept  over  him  ;  and  fevered  with  impatience  to  accomplish 
the  one  fatal  object  which  had  brought  him  hither,  he  pro 
ceeded  at  once  to  reconnoitre  the  prisoner's  quarters. 
Greyslaer,  in  all  his  movements  that  night,  acted  like  one 
who  was  impelled  in  a  dream  by  some  resistless  power 


A     ROMANCE     OF     T.HE    MOHAWK.  473 

within  him ;  and  he  was  spell-bound — if  the  icy  wand  of 
demon  passion  hath  aught  in  it  of  magic  power  above  the 
human  heart. 

He  approached  the  house,  and  discovered,  by  the  glim 
mer  of  a  dull  lamp  within  the  entry,  that  the  street  door 
was  ajar.  He  reached  the  door  itself,  and,  opening  it  still 
further  with  a  cautious  hand,  beheld  the  sentinel  stretched 
upon  a  bench  in  the  hall,  and  snoring  so  obstreperously, 
that,  if  his  slumbers  were  not  feigned,  they  must  be  the 
effect  of  deep  intoxication.  An  empty  flagon,  which  lay 
on  the  floor  just  where  it  had  rolled  from  the  drunken  hand 
of  the  sleeper,  seemed  sufficiently  to  prove  that  the  latter 
must  be  the  case  ;  and,  indeed,  we  may  here  mention,  in 
passing,  that  Stickney,  who  played  the  part  of  the  Helder- 
berg  recruit  so  successfully,  subsequently  escaped  the  ex 
treme  penalty  of  military  law  by  pleading  that  his  neglect 
of  duty  arose  from  intoxication  produced  by  a  drugged 
mixture  administered  by  the  family  upon  whom  the 
prisoner  and  his  sentinel  were  alike  quartered — their  real 
connivance  in  the  escape  of  Bradshawe  being  known  only 
to  Stickney's  superiors. 

Greyslaer  paused  a  moment  to  discover  if  there  were 
no  greater  obstacle  to  his  ingress  to  the  premises  than 
those  which  had  hitherto  presented  themselves.  Sud 
denly  he  heard  a  step  in  the  room  nearest  to  the  street 
door  ;  it  showed  that  the  family  which  occupied  the  lower 
floor  of  the  house  had  not  yet  retired.  Greyslaer  started 
slightly,  (did  the  guilty  soul  of  a  murderer  make  him  thus 
tremulous  ?)  and,  turning  round  at  the  noise,  the  scabbard 
of  his  sword  rattled  against  the  bench  whereon  reposed 
the  sleeping  soldier.  A  light  flashed  momentarily  through 
21* 


474  GREYSLAER; 


the  keyhole  of  the  door  opposite ;  and  then,  as  it  was 
straightway  extinguished,  all  became  still  as  before. 

Had  Max's  mind  not  been  wholly  preoccupied  by  one 
subject,  his  suspicions  must  now  have  been  fully  aroused, 
that  the  occupants  of  the  mansion  were  quietly  colluding 
in  the  escape  of  the  prisoner.  But  now  he  had  ascended 
the  staircase,  and,  pausing  yet  a  moment  to  loosen  his  ra 
pier  in  its  sheath,  he  gave  a  low  tap  at  the  door  of  the 
room  in  which  Bradshawe  was  quartered. 

"  Enter,  my  trusty  Joseph,  most  adroit  and  commend 
able  of  burglars,"  said  Bradshawe,  scarcely  looking  up 
from  the  table  at  which  he  was  writing  by  the  fickle  light 
of  a  shabby  taper.  "  Hold  on  but  a  single  instant,  Bet 
tys,"  he  continued  ;  "  I  am  only  scratching  off  some  lines 
to  exculpate  my  worthy  host  from  any  share  in  this  night's 
business,  in  case  the  wise  rebels  should  think  fit  to  seize 
him.  There,  '  Walter  Bradshawe,'  that  signature  will  be 
worth  something  to  an  autograph-hunter  some  of  these 
days  ;  and  now " 

"And  now,"  echoed  a  voice  near  him,  in  tones  so  freez 
ing,  that  even  the  heart  of  Bradshawe  was  chilled  within 
him  at  the  sound  ;  "and  now  prepare  yourself  for  a  mis 
creant's  death  upon  this  very  instant." 

Bradshawe  looked  up  in  stupefied  amazement. 

"  Do  you  know  me,  Walter  Bradshawe  ?"  cried  Grey- 
slaer,  raising  his  hat  from  his  brow,  and  making  a  stride 
toward  the  table. 

4i  We're  blown,  by  G — d  !"  ejaculated  the  captive  Tory. 
"  Know  you  ?  to  be  sure  I  do.  You're  the  rebel  Grey- 
si  aer,  who,  having  got  wind  of  this  night's  attempt,  have 
come  mousing  here  after  further  evidence  to  hang  me. 
But  you'll  find  it  devilish  hard  to  prove  that  I  meant  to 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE    MOHAWK.  475 

abuse  the  clemency  of  Lafayette,"  added  the  prisoner, 
tearing  to  pieces  the  note  he  had  just  written. 

"  I  come  on  no  such  business,"  said  Greyslaer,  smiling 
bitterly.  "  I  come " 

"  And  if  you  are  not  here  in  an  official  capacity,  sir, 
how  dare  you  intrude  into  my  private  chambers  ?"  cried 
Bradshawe,  springing  to  his  feet  and  confronting  Max 
with  a  look  of  brutal  insolence. 

"  Bradshawe,  you  cannot  distemper  me  by  such  a  tone 
of  insult.  Your  own  heart  must  suggest  the  errand  which 
brought  me  hither."  (The  countenance  of  Bradshawe  for 
the  first  time  fell.)  "  I  might  have  slain  you  as  I  entered  ; 
murdered  you  as  you  sat  but  now  with  your  eyes  bent 
upon  the  paper  that  you  have  since  torn ;  but  my  ven 
geance  were  incomplete,  unless  you  knew  by  whose  hand 
you  fell." 

The  passionless,  icy  tone  in  which  Greyslaer  spoke, 
seemed  to  unnerve  even  the  iron  heart  of  Bradshawe. 
He  tried  to  return  the  steadfast  gaze  of  that  fixed  and 
glassy  eye,  but  his  glances  involuntarily  wandered,  his 
cheek  grew  pale,  his -soul  wilted  before  the  marble  looks 
of  his  mortal  foe.  "He  must  have  the  strength  as  well 
as  the  look  of  a  maniac,"  he  murmured,  catching  at  the 
back  of  a  chair  which  stood  near  him — whether  to  seize  it 
as  a  weapon  of  defence  or  merely  to  steady  himself  by 
its  support,  we  know  not.  But  Max  seemed  to  put  the 
last  construction  upon  the  act,  as,  with  a  discordant  laugh, 
he  cried, 

"  Aha  !  he  shrinks  then,  this  truculent  scoundrel " 

"  I'm  unarmed,  I'm  defenceless — a  prisoner.  If  it's  sat 
isfaction  you  seek  of  me,  Major  Greyslaer,"  cried  Brad- 


476  GREYSLAER; 


shawe,  hurriedly,  as,  holding   the    chair  before  him,  he 
backed  toward  a  corner  of  the  apartment 

"  Satisfaction,  felon  ?"  thundered  Max,  interrupting  the 
appeal  by  springing  furiously  across  the  room.  The 
strength  of  Bradshawe  seemed  to  wither  beneath  the 
touch  of  the  icy  fingers  that  were  instantly  planted  in  his 
throat.  "Oh!  felon — damned  felon!  what  satisfaction 
can  you  make  to  man — to  God,  for  driving  me  to  an  ac 
cursed  deed  like — this?" 

His  sword  leaped  from  its  scabbard  as  he  spoke,  and 
Bradshawe  involuntarily  closed  his  eyes  as  the  gleaming 
blade  seemed  about  to  be  sheathed  in  his  bosom. 

But  suddenly  the  hand  of  Greyslaer  was  arrested  by 
an  iron  grip  from  behind  ;  he  turned  to  confront  the  as 
sailant  who  had  thus  seized  him,  when  Bradshawe,  quickly 
recovering  himself,  dealt  a  blow  with  the  chair — of  which 
he  had  not  yet  released  his  hold — a  blow  that  brought 
Greyslaer  instantly  to  the  ground.  Wounded,  but  not 
stunned,  Max  quickly  regained  his  feet,  and  made  a  pass 
at  the  intruder,  which  only  inflicted  a  slight  flesh  wound, 
but  not  before  Bradshawe  had  thrown  open  a  window, 
through  which,  followed  by  Bettys,  he  leaped  upon  a  shed 
and  dropped  into  the  garden  below.  Greyslaer  hesitated 
not  to  follow ;  but  the  mutual  assistance  which  the  fugi 
tives  rendered  each  other,  enabled  them  to  scale  the 
garden-wall  more  quickly  than  their  pursuer,  and  their 
receding  forms  were  swallowed  up  in  the  surrounding 
darkness,  before  Greyslaer  had  gained  the  quay  to  which 
they  had  retreated.  • 

The  reviving  air  of  night,  the  inspiring  consciousness 
of  freedom  after  so  long  incarceration,  brought  back  at 
once  to  Bradshawe  his  wonted  energy  and  hardihood 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  477 

of  character ;  and  when  Bettys  provided  him  with  a 
weapon  to  use  in  any  extremity  to  which  they  might 
be  reduced  in  accomplishing  the  final  steps  of  their  es 
cape,  the  bold  Tory  could  scarcely  resist  the  impulse  to 
turn  back  and  take  signal  vengeance  upon  the  man  who 
had  momentarily  humbled  his  haughty  spirit ;  but  every 
instant  was  precious,  and  the  fugitives  paused  not  in 
making  their  way  to  the  point  where  they  expected  to 
find  Valtmeyer's  boat  waiting  them. 

They  followed  down  the  water's  edge  nearly  to  State 
street,  as  it  is  now  called,  and  must  have  been  within  a 
few  hundred  yards  of  the  canoe — for  the  garden  of  Mr. 
Taylor,  near  which  it  was  moored,  lay  close  upon  the 
south  side  of  this  broad  avenue — when  suddenly  the  re 
port  of  a  pistol  fired  from  the  house  arrested  their  steps. 

They  faltered  and  turned  back.  Bradshawe,  hurriedly 
telling  his  companion  to  leave  him  to  his  fate,  turned  the 
angle  of  a  street,  and  struck  up  from  the  river  toward  the 
heart  of  the  town.  He  approached  Market  street,  which 
runs  parallel  with  the  Hudson,  and,  hearing  the  tramp  of 
an  armed  patrol  upon  its  side-walks,  concealed  himself 
behind  a  bale  of  merchandise,  which  afforded  the  only 
shelter  near.  It  seemed  an  age  before  the  city  guard  had 
passed  by  ;  and  Bettys,  who,  in  the  mean  time,  had  thrid- 
ded  the  piles  of  staves  and  lumber  upon  the  quay,  and 
visited  the  place  where  he  expected  to  find  the  canoe, 
returned  to  Bradshawe's  side  just  as  the  patrol  had  passed 
the  head  of  the  street,  and  whispered  that  the  boat  was 
gone.  Not  an  instant  was  to  be«  lost  if  they  would  now 
make  their  way  to  the  suburbs,  through  which  was  their 
only  hope  of  escape  into  the  open  country  beyond.  They 
crossed  Market  street — though  at  the  widest  part — fled 


478      '  GREYSLAER; 


up  the  dark  and  narrow  passage  of  Maiden  Lane,  and 
gained  the  outskirts  of  the  town  near  the  top  of  the  hill, 
where  the  old  jail,  till  within  a  few  years,  stood  frowning. 
The  sight  of  the  grated  cells  in  which  he  had  been  im 
mured  for  so  many  long  months,  lent  new  life  to  the 
exertions  of  Bradshawe  ;  and,  with  the  agile  Bettys,  he 
soon  reached  the  nodding  forests,  which  at  that  time  still 
in  broad  patches  crowned  the  heights  in  the  rear  of  the 
ancient  city  of  Albany. 

Let  us  now  return  to  Greyslaer,  whom  we  left  groping 
his  way  among  the  midnight  shadows  upon  the  river's 
bank  when  the  fugitives  escaped  from  his  pursuit,  and  flit 
ted  along  the  water-side  while  he  was  scaling  the  walls 
of  the  garden. 

The  escape  of  Bradshawe,  under  all  the  circumstances 
which  attended  his  imprisonment,  wrought  up  his  pursuer 
to  a  pitch  of  frenzy  that  completely  bewildered  him.  It 
was  not  merely  that  he  was  thus  foiled  in  his  meditated 
vengeance  on  the  instant  when  the  cruel  slanderer  of  Alida 
seemed  placed  by  fate  completely  in  his  hands,  but  the 
idea  that  Bradshawe  should  make  good  his  retreat  within 
the  lines  of  the  royalists,  and  thus  triumphantly  leave  the 
stigma  which  he  had  planted  to  work  its  dire  conse 
quences,  when  he  himself  was  secure  and  far  away  from 
his  victims,  made  Greyslaer  frantic  ;  and  Max,  scarce 
knowing  whither  he  hurried  or  what  he  could  hope  for  in 
this  wild  pursuit,  darted  hither  and  thither  amid  the  laby 
rinth  of  lumber  which  was  heaped  up  along  all  the  busy 
quays  of  Albany. 

Now  it  chanced  that,  at  the  very  moment  that  Bettys 
was,  with  whispered  curses,  deploring  to  Bradshawe  the 
absence  of  the  canoe,  upon  which  the  safety  of  all  seemed 


A    ROMANCE    OF     THE    MOHAWK.  479 

to  depend,  Valtmeyer,  whom  the  intervening  piles  of 
boards  upon  the  shore  had  alone  screened  from  the  view 
of  Bettys,  was  stealthily  gliding  around  the  head  of  the 
pier  at  the  foot  of  the  street  where  the  two  fugitives  had 
halted  until  the  patrol  should  pass  by.  The  outlaw,  too, 
as  well  as  they,  heard  the  tramp  of  armed  men  in  the 
silent  streets  of  the  city ;  and,  pausing  for  a  moment  until 
the  sounds  of  alarm  swept  further  toward  the  northern 
part  of  the  town,  he  plied  his  paddle  with  fresh  industry 
until  he  could  run  his  shallop  into  a  slip  or  dock  near  the 
foot  of  the  garden  where  Max  had  first  lost  sight  of  the 
fugitives.  Here  he  landed,  in  the  hope  of  still  being  in 
time  to  prevent  Bradshawe  and  his  comrade  from  seeking 
the  boat  at  a  point  further  down  the  quay,  and  taking  them 
off  from  the  shore  the  moment  they  should  make  good 
their  escape  from  the  rear  of  the  house. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  darkness  of  the  night,  and  the 
other  obstructions  to  pursuit  already  mentioned,  soon  cut 
short  the  frantic  search  of  Greyslaer,  who,  emerging  from 
the  heavy  shadows  of  the  place,  thought  that  he  again  had 
caught  sight  of  the  fugitives  as  Valtmeyer  suddenly  con 
fronted  him  in  his  path. 

"  Dunder  und  blixem,  capting,  I  was  afeard  you  were  a 
goon  coon,  and  was  on  the  point  of  shoving  off  without 
you.  Where's  Bettys  ?  We  must  be  off  in  haste  !  A 
rebel  luderf"  he  exclaimed,  as  Max  sprang  forward  and 
attempted  to  collar  him.  "  Der  Henker  schlag  herein  ! 
The  hangman  strikes  in  it,  but  Red  Wolfert's  rope  is  not 
yet  spun." 

And,  muttering  thus,  the  giant,  quick  as  light,  shook  off 
the  grasp  of  the  young  officer,  and  leaping  backward  a 
pace  or  two,  presented  a  pistol  at  his  head. 


480  GREYSLAER; 


"  Miss  me,  you  scoundrel,  and  your  fate  is  certain," 
cried  the  undaunted  Max ;  but  Valtmeyer  had  no  idea  of 
further  compromising  the  escape  of  himself  and  his  friends 
by  the  report  of  arms  at  such  a  moment ;  and,  seeing  that 
the  attempt  to  awe  his  foeman  into  silence  had  failed,  he 
drew  his  hanger  and  rushed  upon  Greyslaer  ;  the  sword 
of  Max  was  already  out,  and  the  ruffian  strength  of  Valt 
meyer  found  an  admirable  match  in  the  skill,  the  steadi 
ness,  and  alertness  of  movement  of  his  opponent,  though 
the  darkness  amid  which  they  fought  deprived  Greyslaer 
of  much  of  his  superiority  as  a  fencer. 

Thrice  did  the  outlaw  attempt,  by  beating  down  the 
guard  of  his  opponent,  to  fling  his  huge  form  upon  Max 
and  bear  him  to  the  earth;  and  thrice  did  the  sword  of 
Greyslaer  drink  the  blood  of  the  brawny  borderer  as  he 
thus  essayed  a  death-grapple  with  his  slender  foe. 

And  now  Greyslaer,  who  had  hitherto  yielded  ground 
before  the  furious  onslaught  of  the  other,  began  to  press 
him  backward  foot  by  foot,  until  the  edge  of  the  quay, 
upon  which  Valtmeyer  stood,  permitted  him  to  retreat  no 
further.  He  ground  his  outlandish  oaths  more  savagely 
between  his  teeth  as  he  felt  his  life-blood  failing  him,  and, 
conscious  that  his  hour  had  come,  seemed  bent  alone  upon 
bearing  his  gallant  foeman  with  him  to  destruction.  He 
heard  the  sullen  dashing  of  the  waves  at  his  feet,  and 
glared  furtively  around  ;  whether  from  now  first  realizing 
the  double  danger  near,  or  to  distract  for  a  moment  the 
attention  of  his  antagonist,  it  mattered  not ;  for  now, 
quickly  dropping  his  weapon,  he  sprang  forward  and 
clutched  Max  in  his  arms  in  the  same  moment  that  a  final 
thrust  passed  through  his  own  body.  The  wound  was 
mortal,  but  still  the  bold  outlaw  struggled.  He  had  borne 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  481 

his  foeman  to  the  ground,  and,  pierced  through  as  he  was, 
with  the  steel  still  quivering  in  his  vitals,  he  floundered  with 
his  grappled  burden  toward  the  water's  edge.  The  life 
of  Greyslaer  hung  upon  a  hair,  as  with  knee  planted 
against  the  breast  of  Valtmeyer  and  one  hand  at  his  throat, 
he  clung  with  the  other  to  the  topmost  timber  of  the 
pier  ;  when,  suddenly,  the  mortal  grip  of  the  dying  ruf 
fian  was  relaxed.  There  was  a  heavy  plashing  in  the 
dark-rolling  river,  and  now  its  current  swept  away  the 
gory  corse  of  Valtmeyer. 

But  the  perils  of  this  eventful  night  were  not  yet  over 
for  Max  Greyslaer. 

The  town,  as  we  have  already  noted, had  been  alarmed 
by  the  scene  near  Mr.  Taylor's  premises,  and  the  streets 
were  now  patrolled  in  every  direction,  either  by  a  military 
guard  or  by  the  bold  burghers,  who  rushed  armed  from 
their  houses  at  the  first  sound  of  danger.  Amid  the  ex 
citement  of  a  fight  so  desperate,  neither  Max  nor  his  re 
doubted  foe  had  noticed  the  turmoil  that  was  rising  near. 
But  the  clashing  of  their  swords  had  not  escaped  the  ears 
of  the  patrol,  who  hurried  toward  the  spot  whence  came 
the  sounds  just  as  the  conflict  was  terminating;  Greyslaer 
had  scarcely  regained  his  feet  before  he  was  in  the  hands 
of  the  guard — a  prisoner. 


482  GREYSLAER; 


CHAPTER    IV. 


THE    DUNGEON    T  E  X  A  N  T . 


'  Daughter  of  grief!  thy  spirit  moves 
In  every  whL-tling  win-. I  that  roves 

Across  my  prison  grates. 

It  bids  my  soul  majestic  bear, 

And  with  its  sister  spirit  soar 

Aloft  to  Heaven's  gates." 

J.  0.  BEAUCIIAMP. 


MAX  GREYSLAER  the  tenant  of  a  dungeon?  and  placed 
there,  too,  as  the  murderer  of  Walter  Bradshawe  ?  It 
was  but  too  true!  The  fatality  was  a  strange  one;  yet 
there  are  turns  in  human  destiny  far  more  singular. 

Had  Greyslaer  been  recognized  in  the  moment  that, 
covered  with  dust  and  gore,  he  rose  breathless  from  the 
embrace  of  the  dying  Valtmeyer,  and  was  seized  by  the 
party  of  Whig  soldiery,  the  charges  that  were  that  very 
night  preferred  against  him  by  the  Tory  friends  of  Brad 
shawe,  in  order  to  conceal  their  share  in  the  escape  of 
that  partisan,  had  never  been  listened  to  ;  nor  could  their 
successful  attempt  at  criminating  him  have  made  the  head 
it  did.  But,  now,  before  the  Whig  officer  could  call 
upon  a  single  friend  to  identify  his  character,  the  suspi- 

*  Vi/l"  a  Winter  in  the  AVeU,  vol.  ii. 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE    MOHAWK.  483 


cion  of  murder  had  been  fixed  upon  him,  and,  by  the  time  his 
name  and  rank  became  known,  his  enemies  were  prepared 
with  evidence  which  made  that  name  a  still  further  proof 
of  his  guilt. 

The  disaffected  family  to  whose  care  Bradshawe  was 
intrusted,  deposed  to  the  fact  of  a  muffled  stranger  having 
passed  into  his  quarters  at  midnight.  The  head  of  the 
household  averred  that  it  was  a  man  of  Greyslaer's  height  < 
and  general  appearance.  He  had  heard  his  step  in  the 
entry,  unlocked  his  door,  and  looked  out  to  see  who  it 
might  be ;  but  the  stranger  having  already  reached  the 
staircase  and  begun  ascending,  his  face  was  averted  from 
deponent,  who  could  see  only  the  general  outline  of  the 
stranger's  figure.  The  deponent  did  not  call  upon  the 
stranger  to  stop,  nor  address  him  in  any  way  ;  for  he  took 
it  for  granted  that  the  stranger  had  been  challenged  by 
the  sentinel,  and  must  therefore  be  provided  with  a  permit 
or  pass  to  visit  the  prisoner  at  that  unusual  hour.  He  had 
himself  already  retired  for  the  night.  The  deponent  had 
subsequently  heard  a  tumult,  as  of  men  struggling  to 
gether,  in  the  room  above.  He  leaped  from  his  bed,  and, 
hastening  to  ascend  the  stairs,  stumbled  over  the  sentinel 
who  lay  stretched  at  their  foot,  as  if  struck  down  and 
stunned  a  moment  before.  As  he  stooped  a  moment  to 
raise  the  man,  he  heard  a  noise,  as  of  a  heavy  body  falling, 
in  the  room  above.  He  hurried  onward  to  the  room,  but 
its  occupant  had  already  disappeared.  There  was  blood 
upon  the  floor ;  a  broken  chair,  and  other  signs  of  despe 
rate  conflict.  A  window  that  looked  into  the  garden  stood 
open,  and  there  was  fresh  blood  upon  the  window  sill. 

Other  members  of  this  deponent's  family  here  supplied 
the  next  link  in   the  testimony,  by  stating  that  they  had 


484  GREYSLAEK; 


heard  the  window  above  them  thrown  open  with  violence, 
and  the  feet  of  men  trampling  rapidly  over  the  shed  be 
neath  it,  as  if  one  were  in  ferocious  pursuit  of  the  other. 

As  for  the  sentinel,  he  seemed  ready  to  swear  to 
anything  that  would  get  himself  out  of  peril.  He  could 
not  account  for  the  stranger  making  his  way  into  the 
house  unnoticed  by  himself,  save  by  the  suspicion  that  his 
evening  draught  must  have  been  drugged  by  somebody. 
He  certainly  was  not  sleeping  upon  his  post,  but  his  per 
ceptions  were  so  dulled  that  he  was  not  aware  of  the 
presence  of  an  intruder  until  he  felt  himself  suddenly 
struck  from  behind,  and  cast  nearly  senseless  upon  the 
ground.  But  he  too,  when  raised  to  his  feet  by  the  first 
witness,  had  followed  him  to  the  chamber  already  de 
scribed,  of  whose  appearance  at  the  time  the  former  de 
ponent  had  given  a  true  description. 

The  testimony  of  the  night  patrol — less  willingly  given 
— proved  the  condition  in  which  Greyslaer  was  found, 
with  dress  disordered  and  bloodstained,  as  if  fresh  from 
some  deadly  encounter.  The  marks  of  blood,  too,  were 
found  spotted  over  the  timbers  of  the  pier,  while  the  foot 
prints  leading  down  to  the  water's  edge  ;  the  steps  dashed 
here  and  there  in  the  blood-besprinkled  dust ;  the  light  soil 
beaten  down  and  flattened  in  one  place,  and  scattered  in 
others,  as  if  some  heavy  body  had  been  drawn  across  it 
— all  marked  the  spot  as  the  scene  of  some  terrible  strug 
gle,  whose  catastrophe  the  black-rolling  waves  at  hand 
might  best  reveal. 

There  was  but  one  circumstance  which  suggested 
another  agency  than  that  of  Greyslaer  in  the  doings  of 
this  eventful  night,  and  that  was  the  attack  on  Mr.  Tay 
lor's  premises,  which  had  first  alarmed  the  town.  But 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  485 

this,  again,  took  place  at  the  opposite  side  of  the  city,  and 
could  have  had  no  connection  with  Bradshawe ;  for  Mr. 
Taylor's  people  had  seen  the  ruffians  flying  off  in  a  con 
trary  direction  from  that  where  Bradshawe  resided. 

But,  then,  what  motive  could  have  hurried  on  a  man 
of  Greyslaer's  habits  and  condition  of  life  to  a  deed  so  foul 
as  that  of  murder  ? 

His  habits,  his  condition  ?  Why  !  was  not  the  supposed 
murderer  no  other  than  the  wild  enthusiast,  who,  in  some 
besotted  hour  of  passion,  had  betrothed  himself  to  the 
abandoned  offcast  of  an  Indian  profligate?  And  had  not 
Bradshawe  been  compelled,  by  the  venomous  assaults 
which  had  been  made  upon  his  own  character,  to  rip  up 
that  hideous  story,  and  publish  to  the  world  the  infamy  of 
Greyslaer's  mistress  ?  Was  it  not,  too,  through  the  very 
instrumentality  of  this  unhappy  person  that  Bradshawe's 
life  had,  under  color  of  law,  been  previously  endangered  ; 
that  the  felon  charge  of  acting  as  a  spy  had  been  got  up 
and  enforced  against  the  much-injured  royalist  ?  a  charge 
which,  even  after  sentence  of  death  had  been  pronounced 
upon  the  Tory  partisan,  the  stanchest  of  the  faction  hesi 
tated  to  acknowledge  was  sufficiently  sustained  to  war 
rant  his  execution.  No,  the  murderer  of  Bradshawe  could 
be  no  other  than  the  betrothed  lover  of  Alida  !  Such  was 
the  testimony  and  such  the  arguments  which  had  lost 
Greyslaer  his  personal  liberty,  and  which  now  threatened 
him  with  a  felon's  fate  upon  the  scaffold  ! 

And  where  now  was  that  unhappy  girl,  whose  sorrows 
had  so  strangely  reacted  upon  her  dearest  friend  ?  whose 
blighted  name  carried  with  it  a  power  to  blast  even  the 
life  of  her  lover  ? 

It  is  the  dead  hour  of  midnight,  and  she  has  stolen  out 


486  GREYSLAER; 


from  the  house  of  the  relative  who  had  given  her  shelter 
and  privacy,  to  visit  the  lonely  prisoner  in  his  dungeon. 
The  prisoner  starts  from  his  pallet  as  the  door  grates  on 
its  hinges,  and  that  pale  form  now  stands  before  him. 

Let  the  first  moments  of  their  meeting  be  sacred  from 
all  human  record.  It  were  profane  to  picture  the  hal 
lowed  endearments  of  two  true  hearts  thus  tried,  thus 
trusting  each  other  till  the  last. 

"Oh,  Max,"  murmured  Alida,  when  the  first  moments 
of  their  meeting  were  over,  "  oh,  how  little  did  I  dream, 
when  I  wrote  that  you  should  see  me  no  more,  that  love 
and  duty  again  might  lead  me  to  you ;  that  God's  provi 
dence  would  place  you  where  no  woman's  doubt  could 
prevent  me  from " 

"  God's  providence  !  Speak  not  those  words  to  me," 
said  Greyslaer,  withdrawing  from  her  as  if  some  shudder 
ing  recollection  hurried  over  his  soul. 

Alida  answered  only  with  a  look  of  perplexed,  wildly 
appealing  anxiety  ;  while  the  features  of  her  lover  became 
set  and  moody,  as  if  from  some  suddenly  occurring  inter 
nal  consciousness  that  their  identities  of  sympathy  were  no 
longer  the  same. 

"  You  loved  me  once,  Alida,"  said  Greyslaer,  his  stolid 
look  not  changing. 

"  Oh  God  !  he's  mad,  he's  mad !  Loved  you  once, 
dearest !  When  could  those  days  be,  time  gone  by  ? 
Loved  you  once,  Max!"  She  wept  bitterly. 

Greyslaer  looked  on  unmoved.  "  Was  I  worthy  of 
your  love  ?  Did  my  devotion  satisfy  the  imperious  needs 
of  a  soul  like  yours  ?"  he  asked  with  mechanical  coldness. 

"  Did  it  satisfy  ?  Oh  Heaven,  what  means  this,  Grey 
slaer?  my  life,  my  more  than  life  !  Thou  knowest,  thou 


A     ROMANCE     OF     THE     MOHAWK.  487 

knowest  thy  love  has  been  to  me  more  than  fancy  had 
conceived — more  than  hope  had  whispered.  Have  I  not 
lived  in  the  atmosphere  of  thy  exhaustless  tenderness, 
when  thou  wert  near;  and  when  defrauded  of  thee — 
when  shut  from  thy  dear  presence,  has  not  my  spirit  still 
drank  from  the  unfathomable  depths  of  thine?  Satisfy? 
My  own,  my  proud,  my  noble  Greyslaer,  is  not  thy  nature 
as  wildly  affluent,  as  burning,  as  headstrong  as  my  own — 
and  have  I  not  witnessed  thy  high  will  in  curbing  it,  and 
then  adored  thee  for  thy  nobleness  ?  Loved  thee  once, 
Greyslaer  ? — ever,  ever.  Thou  dost  satisfy  the  restless 
cravings  of  thought  ;  thou  dost  content  the  spiritualism  of 
sentiment ;  thou  dost  gratify  the  dreams  of  imagination  ; 
thou  dost  fill  the  sense  of  the  manly  and  the  beautiful ;  thou 
dost  flood  with  content  all  yearnings  of  affection  ;  all  crav 
ings  of  tenderness  ;  all  rapturous  dreams  of  sympathy — the 
mightiest  !  Thy  love  not  satisfy  me,  Max  ?  Oh,  if  I  had 
died  and  left  this  doubt  upon  thy  soul  !  this  dreadful  skep 
ticism  of  faith  in  me  and  in  thyself — "  and  the  impassioned 
being  wrung  her  hands  in  anguish  at  the  thought  she  had 
conjured  up  ;  "  but  I  would  not — I  could  not  have  died 
without  thee,  Max. — Max,  I  deceived  myself  when  I  left 
thee. — I  am  a  woman,  a  poor  weak  woman. — I  am  no 
heroine  at  the  call  of  duty,  as  I  thought  myself. — If  not 
thy  wife,  thy  mistress  then,  thy  thrall ;  I  would  nestle 
in  thy  bosom,  I  would  share  thy  councils,  I  would  comfort, 
I  would  sustain  thee ;  or  if  not  that,  I  would  sit  at  thy 
feet,  clasp  thy  dear  hand,  and  look  into  thy  noble  face,  and 
read  all  of  heaven  there. — Thou  wert  made  for  worship, 
for  me  to  worship,  and  when  my  heart  overflows  in  its 
fullness  of  love  for  thee,  we  would  kneel  down  and  bless 
God  each  for  the  gift  of  the  other. — Speak  to  me,  speak 


488  GREYSLAER; 


to  me  now — now,  my  noble,  my  beautiful,  my  grand — 
speak  to  me,  and  say  thou  believest  I  am  so  wrapped  in 
thy  being  I  would  be  absorbed  into  thy  very  self. — Tell 
me,  oh,  tell  me,  but  that  my  love  has  been  worthy  of  thine 
own,  as  deep,  as  boundless,  as  unutterable." 

It  was  a  terrible  joy  that  which  thrilled  the  bosom  of 
that  dungeon  prisoner  as  his  betrothed  the  next  in 
stant  throbbed  against  his  delirious  heart.  ButGreyslaer's 
concentrated  passion  supplied  no  terms  of  rhapsody 
through  which  to  pour  itself.  "  Alida,"  said  he,  speaking 
at  last,  and  the  cold  drops  stood  on  his  forehead  as  he 
pronounced  the  words,  and  his  voice  was  hard  and  husky, 
as  if  delivering  the  doom  of  his  worldly  honor — "  Alida, 
wert  thou  as  base  as  Bradshawe  \vould  make  thee  out  to 
be,  ere  accepting  my  love,  mine  thou  shouldst  be — mine. 
I  would  still  uphold  thee,  peerless  in  womanhood,  oh  most 
angelic  in  thy  devotedness — heeding  not,  believing  not, 
recking  not  how,  or  when,  or  where — mine  only,  mine 
all — thy  glorious  soul  did  fall  from  its  appointed  sphere  of 
purity  and  reverence,  I  would  pluck  thee  from  the  scorn- 
ers,  and  buckler  thy  name  with  mine  against  a  world  of 
obloquy — most  loved,  most  dear,  most  radiant  one,  as 
Heaven  hears  me  now,  I  would  !"  . 

Ashen  pale  was  the  cheek  of  Alida,  as  thus  he  spoke. 
"  Thou  shouldst  NOT,  Greyslaer,"  was  her  firm  reply. 
"  My  pride  in  thee  is  at  the  root  of  all  my  love.  Never 
shouldst  thou  bate  thine  honor  one  jot  to  share  my  sor 
rows  or  console  me  in  despair." 

"  Honor  !"  said  Max  bitterly — "  Alida,  Alida,  know  you 
not  that,  in  the  eye  of  Heaven,  I  am  this  moment  the 
thing  that  men  would  make  me  out  to  be  ?" 

"  Oh,  no,  no,  no  !"  she  shrieked,  starting  back  with  fear 


A     ROMANCE     OF     THE    MOHAWK.  489 

tares  which,  for  a  single  instant  convulsed  with  horror, 
were  changed  to  more  than  woman's  tenderness  as  again 
she  caught  the  hands  of  Max  in  both  hers,  "  you  are  not, 
you  cannot  be  a — a — no,  Greyslaer,  no,  you  cannot  be 
a — murderer.  You  fought  with  him,  you  met  him  singly 
— sinfully,  in  the  eye  of  Heaven,  but  not  with  brutal  in 
tent  of  murder — you  did — in  single  combat — 'twas  in  a 
duel  he  fell." 

"  Hear  me,  hear  me,  my  loved  one  ;  it  was " 

"  No,  no,  I  will  not  hear  ;  I  know  'twas  so  ;  and  I — / 
was  the  one  whose  guilty  dream  of  vengeance  first  quick 
ened  such  intention  into  being,  and  sharpened  your  sword 
against  his  life." 

"  Alas  !  Alida,  why  torture  yourself  by  recalling  the 
memory  of  that  wild  hallucination  of  your  early  years  ? 
That  shadowy  intention  of  avenging  your  own  wrongs 
was  but  the  darkly  romantic  dream  of  an  undisciplined 
mind  preyed  upon  and  perverted  by  disease  and  sorrow  ; 
and  many  a  prayerful  hour  has  since  atoned  to  Heaven 
for  those  sinful  fancies.  But  my  conscience  is  loaded  far 
more  heavily,  and  with  a  burden  that  none  can  share  ;  a 
burden,"  he  added,  smiling  with  strange  meaning  on  his 
lip,  "  that  mayhap  it  hardly  wishes  to  shake  off." 

"  You  slew  him  not  at  vantage ;  he  fell  not  an  unresist 
ing  victim  to  your  vengeful  passions,"  gasped  Alida. 

"  The  man  that  I  slew  yesternight  fell  in  fair  and  open 
fight,  Alida.  There  is  no  stain  upon  my  soldier's  sword 
for  aught  that  happened  then."  The  words  had  not 
passed  the  lips  of  her  lover  ere  Alida  was  on  her  knees. 
"  Nay,"  cried  Max,  catching  her  clasped  hands  in  his, 
"blend  not  my  name  in  your  prayer  of  thankfulness  to 
Heaven  ;  'twill  weigh  it  down  and  keep  it  from  ascend- 
22 


490  GRETSLAER; 


ing ;  for,  surely  as  thou  kneelest  there,  I  am  in  heart  a 
murderer.  'Twas  Bradshawe's  life  at  which  I  aimed  ; 
'twas  Bradshawe's  death,  his  murder  that  I  sought,  when 
Valtrneyer  crossed  my  path  and  fairly  met  the  punish 
ment  of  his  crimes.  A  mysterious  Providence  made  me 
the  instrument  of  its  justice  in  exacting  retribution  from 
him  ;  and  the  same  Providence  now  punishes  in  me  the 
foul  intention  which  placed  me  there  to  do  its  bidding." 

If  there  was  something  of  bitterness  in  the  tone  in  which 
Max  spoke  these  words,  which  gave  a  double  character 
to  what  he  said,  Alida  did  not  notice  it,  as  passionately 
she  cried, 

"  Kneel,  then,  Greyslaer,  kneel  here  with  me  ;  kneel  in 
gratitude  to  the  Power  that  preserved  thee  from  the  per 
petration  of  this  wickedness,  and  so  mysteriously  foiled 
the  contrivings  of  thy  heart ;  kneel  in  thankfulness  to  the 
chastening  hand  that  hath  so  soon  sent  this  painful  trial 
to  punish  this  lapse  from  virtue — to  purge  thy  heart  from 
its  guilty  imaginings  ;  kneel  in  prayer  that  this  cloud 
which  we  have  brought  upon  ourselves  may  in  Heaven's 
own  time  pass  away  ;  or,  if  not,  ITS  will  be  done  !" 

"  I  may  not,  I  cannot  kneel,  Alida,"  said  Max,  in  gloomy 
reply  to  her  impetuous  appeal.  "  No  !  though  I  own 
the  chastening  hand  which  is  even  now  stretched  out 
above  me,  my  heart  still  refuses  to  cast  out  the  design 
that  brought  me  hither.  I  will  not,  I  must  not  kneel  in 
mockery  to  Heaven  !" 

"  And  thou — thou  wouldst  still — murder  him  !"  shrieked 
Alida. 

"  Leave  me,  distract  me  not  thus,"  cried  her  agonized 
Jover,  leaning  against  the  wall  as  if  to  steady  himself,  and 
covering  his  face  with  his  hands  to  shut  out  the  earnest 
gaze  she  fixed  upon  him. 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE    MOHAWK.  941 

"  Speak  to  me,  look  at  me,  Max,"  implored  Alida,  in 
tones  of  wild  anguish,  as  she  sprang  forward  and  caught 
his  arm.  "  Thou  wouldst — thou  wouldst  !" 

A  cold  shiver  seemed  to  tremble  through  the  frame  of 
her  lover  ;  but  his  voice,  though  low  and  husky,  had  an 
almost  unearthly  calmness  in  it,  as  dropping  his  hands 
and  fixing  his  looks  full  upon  her,  he  said, 

"  I  would,  though  hell  itself  were  gaping  there  to  swal 
low  both  of  us  !  Hear  me,  Alida  ;  it  is  the  hand  of  Fate — 
it  is  some  iron  destiny  that  works  within  my  heart — that 
knots  together  and  stiffens  the  damned  contrivances  it 
will  not  forego.  Why  should  I  deceive  you  when  I  can 
not  deceive  myself?  Why  insult  Heaven  with  this  vain 
lip-worship  when  no  holy  thought  can  inhabit  here  ? — 
here,"  he  repeated,  striking  his  hand  upon  his  bosom, 
"  here,  where  one  horrid  craving  rages  to  consume  me — 
the  lust  of  that  man's  blood  !" 

"  Oh  God  !  this  is  too  horrible  !"  gasped  Alida,  as,  shud 
dering,  she  sank  upon  the  prisoner's  pallet  and  buried  her 
face  in  her  hands. 

Max  made  no  movement  to  raise  her,  but  his  was  the 
mournful  gaze  of  the  doom -stricken,  as,  standing  aloof,  his 
lips  moved  with  some  half-uttered  words,  which  could 
scarcely  have  reached  the  ears  of  Alida. 

"  Weep  on,"  he  said,  "  weep  on,  my  love — my  first, 
last,  my  only  love.  Those  bursting  tears  do  well  become 
her,  a  child  of  sorrow  from  her  earliest  youth.  Those 
tears  !  Mine  is  not  the  hand  to  stay  them,  mine  the  heart 
to  mingle  with  them  in  sympathetic  flow  ;  for  I — I  can 
weep  no  more  !" 

"  Alida,  sweet  Alida,''  said  he,  advancing  at  last  toward 
her  ;  "  Alida,  my  best,  my  loveliest — she  hears  me  not ; 


492  GREYSLAER; 


she  will  not  listen  to  me.     Oh  God  !  why  shudder  you  so, 
and  withdraw  your  hand  from  my  touch  ?" 

But  Alida  has  sprung  to  her  feet,  has  dashed  the  tears 
from  her  eyes,  and  her  clear  voice  thrills  in  the  ears  of 
her  lover  as  thus  she  speaks  to  him  : 

"  Hear  me,  Greyslaer :  'twas  I  first  infused  these  fell 
thoughts  into  your  bosom  ;  'twas  I,  in  the  besotted  season 
of  youth,  and  folly,  and  girlish  fantasy — /  that  taught  you 
this  impious  lesson  of  murderous  retribution.  It  is  my 
wrongs,  my  individual  and  personal  injuries,  whose  recent 
aggravation  has  revived  the  mad  intent,  and  stamped  it 
with  a  character  of  blackness  such  as  before  you  never 
dreamed  of.  Now,  by  the  God  whom  I  first  learned  to 
worship  in  full,  heart-yielded  reverence,  from  you,  Max 
Greyslaer — by  HIM  I  swear,  that,  if  you  persist  in  this,  I — 
I  myself,  woman  as  I  am — will  be  the  first  to  tread  the 
path  of  crime,  to  which  you  point  the  way,  and  forestall 
you  in  perdition  of  your  soul.  I  am  free  to  move  where 
I  list,  and  work  my  will  as  best  I  may  ;  your  will  is  but 
that  of  a  dungeon  prisoner,  and  Bradshawe's  life,  if  it  de 
pend  upon  the  murderous  deed  of  either,  shall  expire  at 
my  hand  before  you  pass  these  doors." 

The  fire  of  her  first  youth  flashed  in  the  eyes  of  Alida 
as  she  spoke,  and  there  was  a  determination  seated  on 
her  brow,  such  as  even  in  her  haughtiest  mood  of  that 
arrogant  season  it  had  never  worn.  But  the  next  mo 
ment  all  this  had  passed  away  entirely,  and  it  was  only 
the  broken-hearted,  the  still  loving,  the  imploring  Chris 
tian  woman  that  kneeled  at  the  feet  of  Greyslaer. 

"  Max — Max — dearest  Max,"  she  said,  while  sobs  half 
suffocated  her  utterance,  "  it  is  Alida,  your  own,  your 
once  fondly  loved  Alida,  that  pleads  to  you,  that  kneels 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  493 

here  imploring  you  to  rend  this  wickedness  from  your 
breast,  and  ask  Heaven  for  its  pardon.  It  is  she  who  has 
no  friend,  no  relative,  no  resting-place  in  any  heart  on 
earth  save  that  from  which  you  would  drive  her  to  make 
room  for  images  so  dreadful.  Surely  you  did  love  me 
once  ;  surely  you  have  pity  for  my  sorrows  ;  you  will 
not,  you  cannot  persist  in  thus  trebling  their  burden. 
Ah  !  now  you  weep  ;  it  is  Heaven,  not  I,  dearest  Max, 
that  softens  your  heart  toward  your  own  Alida.  Blessed 
be  those  tears,  and — nay,  raise  me  not  yet — not  till  you 

have  knelt  beside  me." 

*  *  #  #  *  * 

The  cell  is  narrow,  the  walls  are  thick.  There  is  no 
sound  of  human  voice,  no  shred  of  vital  air  can  pass  through 
the  vaulted  ceiling  which  shuts  in  those  kneeling  lovers  ! 
Can,  then,  the  subtle  spirit  of  prayer  pierce  the  flinty  rock, 
mount  into  the  liberal  air,  and,  spreading  as  it  goes,  fill  the 
wide  ear  of  Heaven  with  the  appeal  of  those  two  lonely 
human  sufferers  ? 

The  future  may  unfold. 


494  GREYSLAER 


CHAPTER    V. 


WAYFARERS    IN    THE    FOREST. 


"  Now  stay,  thou  ghostly  traveller,  stay ; 

Why  haste  in  such  a  mad  career  ? 
Be  the  guilt  of  thy  bosom  as  dark  as  it  may, 
'Twere  better  to  purge  it  here." 

The  Dead  Horseman,  by  MRS.  SIGOURNEY. 


THE  mingled  yarn  of  our  story  is  now  becoming  so  com 
plex,  that,  to  follow  out  its  details  with  clearness,  we  must 
pause  to  take  up  a  new  thread  which  at  this  moment  be 
comes  interwoven  with  the  rest. 

The  faithful  Bait  had  been  almost  the  only  visitor  admit 
ted  to  the  Hawksnest  during  the  last  few  months  that  im 
mediately  preceded  the  withdrawal  of  Miss  de  Roos  from 
her  home.  The  old  forester  seemed  to  have  conceived  a 
kind  of  capricious  liking  for  little  Guise,  the  half-blood 
child  ;  and  as  his  visits  were  really  paid  to  that  ill-omened 
urchin,  though  his  excuse  for  coming  was  to  ask  after  the 
health  of  Miss  Alida,  and  to  inquire  if  she  had  any  news  of 
the  major,  Miss  de  Roos  never  thought  it  worth  while  to 
deny  herself  to  her  humble  friend,  even  while  practising 
the  strictest  seclusion  in  regard  to  her  other  neighbors. 

Bait,  in  the  mean  time,  was  too  observing  a  character 
not  to  notice  that  some  secret  grief  must  be  preying  upon 
Alida;  and  his  new-sprung  interest  in  little  Guise  soon  be- 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.          495 

came  secondary  to  the  feelings  of  concern  which  her  fast 
fading  health  awakened  in  the  worthy  woodsman. 

It  chanced  one  day  that  Alida,  who  not  infrequently 
took  occasion  to  employ  his  services  in  some  slight  task, 
which,  while  remunerating  his  trouble,  would  give  him 
occupation  while  lounging  about  the  premises,  pointed  out 
a  magnolia  which  she  wished  removed  to  another  part  of 
the  shrubbery,  in  the  hope  that  a  more  favorable  situation 
might  revive  its  drooping  condition.  Bait  readily  under 
took  the  task  of  transplanting  it,  while  Alida  looked  on  to 
direct  him  during  the  operation. 

"  Now,  Miss  Alida."  said  the  woodsman,  striking  his 
spade  into  the  earth,  "  I  don't  know  much  of  the  natur  of 
this  here  little  tree,  seeing  as  I  never  happened  on  one  in 
any  woods  I've  hunted  over  ;  but  I  rayther  mistrust  the 
winds  have  but  little  to  do  with  its  getting  kinder  sickly 
as  it  were,  in  its  present  situation,  I  do." 

"And  why,  Bait?" 

"  Why.  you  see  now,  ma'am,  if  the  tree  were  attackted 
from  the  outside,  it's  the  outside  would  first  feel  it ;  the 
edges  of  the  leaves  would  first  crumple  up  and  turn  brown 
ish  like,  while  the  middle  parts  of  them  might  long  remain 
as  sleekly  green  and  shiny  as  the  edges  be  now.  There's 
something,  Miss  Alida,  at  the  heart,  at  the  root,  I  may 
rayther  say,  of  that  tree ;  something  that  undermines  it 
and  withers  it  from  below.  And  these  sort  o'  ailings, 
whether  in  trees  or  in  human  beings,  are  mighty  hard  to 
get  at,  I  tell  ye."  As  the  woodsman  spoke  he  leaned  upon 
his  spade,  and  looked  steadfastly  at  Miss  de  Roos,  who 
felt  conscious  of  changing  color  beneath  the  earnest  but 
respectful  gaze  of  her  rude  though  well-meaning  friend. 

She  did  not  answer,  but  only  motioned   him   to  go  on 


496  GREYSLAER; 


in  his  digging ;  and  Bait,  seeing  that  he  had  in  some  way 
offended,  resumed  his  work  with  diligence.  But  the  next 
moment,  forgetful  wholly  of  the  figurative  use  he  had  made 
of  his  skill  in  arboriculture,  and  speaking  merely  in  literal 
application  to  the  task  before  him,  he  exclaimed  trium 
phantly, 

"  There,  you  see,  now,  it's  jist  as  I  told  ye,  Miss  Alida ; 
there  has  been  varmint  busy  near  the  roots  of  this  little 
tree.  Look  but  where  I  put  my  spade,  and  see  how  the 
field-mice  have  more  than  half  girdled  it.  The  straw  and 
other  truck  which  that  book-reading  Scotch  gardener  put 
around  the  roots,  has  coaxed  the  mice  to  make  their  nests 
there  in  the  winter,  and  they've  lived  upon  the  bark  till 
only  two  or  three  fingers'  breadths  are  left." 

"  I  hope  there's  bark  enough  left  yet  to  save  it,"  said 
Alida,  now  only  intent  upon  preserving  the  shrub. 

"  There's  life  there,  Miss  Alida — green  life  in  that  nar 
row  strip  ;  and,  while  there's  life,  there's  hope;  and  old  Bait, 
when  he  once  knows  whence  comes  the  ailing,  is  jist  the 
man  to  stir  himself  and  holp  it  from  becoming  fatal." 

As  the  woodsman  spoke  he  again  ventured  an  earnest 
though  rapid  glance  at  the  face  of  the  young  lady  ;  but 
this  time  she  had  turned  away  her  head,  and,  hastily  sig 
nifying  to  Bait  that  he  might  deal  with  the  magnolia 
according  to  the  best  of  his  judgment,  she  strolled  off  as 
if  busied  for  the  moment  in  examining  some  other  plants 
and  soon  afterward  withdrew  into  the  house,  without 
again  speaking  to  him. 

The  worthy  fellow,  who,  on  his  subsequent  visits  to  little 
Guise,  had  never  again  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  pro 
tectress  of  the  child  alone,  was  deeply  hurt  at  the  idea  o 
this  conversation  having  put  Ali-J.i  upon  her  guard  agains 


A     ROMANCE    OF     THE     MOHAWK.  497 

listening  to  more  of  these  hinted  suspicions  that  she  needed 
his  sympathy.  His  natural  good  sense,  however,  pre 
vented  honest  Bait  from  apologizing  for  his  officious  kind 
ness,  or  showing  in  any  way  that  he  was  conscious  of 
having  offended.  He  was,  however,  from  this  moment 
fully  convinced  that  some  mysterious  sorrow  was  the 
latent  cause  of  Miss  de  Roos's  rapidly  failing  health,  and 
he  determined  to  leave  no  proper  means  untried  to  get  at 
the  real  source  of  her  mental  suffering. 

His  first  desire  was  to  communicate  instantly  with 
Greyslaer ;  but  he  had  never  been  taught  to  write,  and 
his  mother  wit  suggested  the  impropriety  of  trusting  mat 
ters  so  delicate  to  a  third  party  by  employing  an  aman 
uensis.  In  the  mean  time,  the  cruelly  slanderous  story 
of  Bradshawe  reached  at  last  the  sphere  in  which  Bait 
was  chiefly  conversant.  The  first  mysterious  affair  about 
Miss  de  Roos  had,  as  we  have  seen,  been  known  almost 
exclusively  to  the  simpler  class  of  her  country  neighbors  ; 
but  the  dark  tale,  as  now  put  forth  by  Bradshawe  and  his 
Albany  friends,  originating  in  the  upper  classes  of  society, 
soon  descended  to  the  lowest,  and  became  alike  the  theme 
of  the  parlor  and  the  kitchen,  the  city  drawing-room  and 
the  roadside  ale-house. 

A  heartless  female  correspondent  of  Alida  had  first  dis 
closed  it  to  that  unhappy  lady,  when  alleging  it  as  an  ex 
cuse  for  breaking  off  their  further  intercourse;  but  it  was 
not  till  after  her  departure  from  the  Hawksnest  that  Bait 
heard  the  tale,  as  told  in  all  its  horrid  enormity  among  the 
coarse  spirits  of  a  village  bar-room.  His  first  impulse 
was  to  shake  the  life  out  of  the  half-tipsy  oracle  of  the 
place,  who  gave  it  as  "the  latest  news  from  Albany  ;  but, 
upon  some  one  exclaiming,  "  Why,  man,  this  is  fiddler's 
22* 


498  GREYSLAER; 


news,  that  we've  all  known  for  a  month  or  more,"  while 
others  winked  and  motioned  toward  Bait,  as  if  the  subject 
should  be  dropped  for  the  present,  he  saw  that  the  scan 
dal  had  gone  too  far  to  be  thus  summarily  set  at  rest. 
There  was  but  one  other  move  which  suggested  itself  to 
him,  and  that  was  to  take  instant  counsel  with  the  party 
chiefly  interested  in  the  fair  fame  of  Alida.  And  Bait, 
within  the  hour,  had  borrowed  a  horse  from  a  neighbor, 
and  started  for  Fort  Stanwix. 

Pressing  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible,  he  continued 
his  journey  through  the  night,  and  thus  passing  Greyslaer 
on  the  road,  arrived  at  his  quarters  just  four-and-twenty 
hours  after  Max  had  so  hurriedly  started  for  Albany. 
Bait  surmised  at  once  what  must  be  the  cause  for  his  ab 
rupt  departure,  and,  as  soon  as  possible,  took  horse  again 
and  retraced  his  steps  ;  borrowed  a  fresh  nag  from  the 
same  farmer  who  had  lent  him  the  first,  and  pushed  for 
ward  toward  Albany. 

His  journey  was  wholly  uneventful  until  he  had  passed 
Schenectady  and  entered  upon  the  vast  pine  plains  which 
extend  between  that  city  and  the  Hudson.  But,  fitly  to 
explain  what  here  occurred,  we  must  go  back  to  Brad- 
shawe  and  his  comrade  Bettys,  and  trace  their  adventures 
from  the  place  where  last  we  left  them  in  the  immediate 
suburbs  of  Albany. 

To  enter  a  farmer's  stable  and  saddle  a  couple  of  his 
best  horses  was  a  matter  of  little  enterprise  to  two  such 
characters  as  Bradshawe  and  his  freebooter  ally  ;  and 
now  the  pine  plains,  that  reach  away  some  fifteen  miles 
toward  Schenectady,  had  received  the  adventurous  fugi 
tives  beneath  their  dusky  colonnade's. 

The  remains  of  this  forest  are  still  visible  in  a  stunted 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE     MOHAWK.  499 

undergrowth,  which,  barely  hiding  the  sandy  soil  from 
view,  gives  so  monotonous  and  dreary  an  appearance  to 
the  continuous  waste.  But  at  the  time  of  which  we  write, 
and  even  until  the  steam-craft  of  the  neighboring  Hudson 
had  devoured  this,  with  a  hundred  other  noble  forests  in  its 
greedy  furnaces,  there  was  a  gigantic  vegetation  upon 
those  plains  which  now  seem  so  barren. 

The  scrub  oak,  which  is  fast  succeeding  to  the  shapely 
pine,  had  not  made  its  appearance;  and  the  pale  poplar, 
whose  delicate  leaves  here  and  there  quivered  over  the 
few  runnels  which  traversed  the  thirsty  soil,  was  almost 
the  only  deciduous  tree  that  reared  its  head  among  those 
black  and  endless  arcades  of  towering  trunks,  supporting 
one  unbroken  roof  of  dusky  verdure. 

Bold  and  expert  horsemen  as  they  were,  Bradshawe 
and  his  comrade  soon  found  it  impossible  to  pick  their 
path  amid  this  cavernous  gloom  in  the  deep  hour  of  mid 
night.  They  were  soon  conscious  of  wandering  from  the 
highway,  which,  from  the  impossibility  of  seeing  the  skies 
through  the  overarching  boughs  above  it,  as  well  as  from  the 
absence  of  all  coppice  or  undergrowth  along  its  sides,  was 
easily  lost.  They  therefore  tethered  their  steeds  and 
"camped  down,"  as  it  is  called  in  our  hunter  phrase,  upon 
the  dry  soil,  fragrant  with  the  fallen  cones  of  the  pine- 
trees  which  it  nourished. 

So  soon  as  the  morning  light  permitted  them  to  move, 
they  discovered,  as  they  had  feared,  that  they  had  lost  the 
highway  without  the  hope  of  recovering  it,  save  by  de 
voting  more  time  to  the  search  of  a  beaten  path  than  it 
were  safe  to  consume.  They  knew  the  points  of  the 
compass,  however,  from  the  hemlocks  which  were  here 
and  there  scattered  through  the  forest  whose  topmost 


500  GREYSLAER; 


branches,  our  woodsmen  say,  point  always  towards  the 
rising  sun,  and  resumed  their  journey  in  a  direction  due 
west  from  the  city  of  Albany. 

An  occasional  ravine,  however,  which,  though  at  long 
intervals,  deeply  seamed  this  monotonous  plateau  of  land, 
turned  them  from  their  course,  and  thus  delayed  their  pro 
gress  ;  and,  with  appetites  sharp-set  by  their  morning 
ride,  they  were  glad  to  arrive,  about  noon,  at  the  earthen 
hovel  of  one  of  that  strange,  half-gipsy  race  of  beings 
known  by  the  name  of  Yansies,  which,  even  within  the 
last  twelve  or  fifteen  years,  still  had  their  brute-like  bur 
rows  in  this  lonely  wild.  Even  Bettys,  little  fastidious  as 
he  was,  recoiled  from  the  fare  which  these  "  Dirt  Eaters," 
as  the  Indians  called  them,  placed  before  him.  But  Brad- 
shawe,  while  declining  their  hospitality  with  a  better 
grace,  procured  an  urchin  to  guide  him  to  the  highwray, 
which  he  was  glad  to  learn  was  not  far  from  the  hovel. 

They  emerged,  then,  once  more  upon  the  travelled  road 
within  a  few  miles  of  Schenectady,  and  at  a  point  where 
they  would  soon  be  compelled  to  leave  it  to  make  the  cir 
cuit  of  that  town.  Their  horses  were  weary  and  in  need 
of  refreshment  ;  and,  with  their  various  windings  through 
the  forest,  they  had  spent  nearly  twelve  hours  in  accom 
plishing  a  journey  which,  by  a  direct  route,  the  time-con 
quering  locomotive  now  performs  in  one. 

The  Yansie  boy  had  left  them  ;  for  the  red  hues  of  the 
westering  sun,  streaming  upon  the  sandy  road,  made  their 
way  sufficiently  plain  before  them.  Their  jaded  horses 
labored  through  the  loose  and  arid  soil,  but  still  they  urged 
them  forward  to  escape  from  the  forest  before  the  coming 
twilight.  They  had  ridden  thus  for  some  time  in  perfect 
silence,  when,  upon  a  sudden  exclamation  from  Bettys,  his 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  501 

comrade  raised  his  eyes  and  looked  anxiously  forward  in 
the  long  vista  before  him.  The  road  at  this  place  ran 
perfectly  straight  over  a  dead  level  for  a  mile  or  more. 
The  setting  sun  poured  a  flood  of  light  upon  the  yellow 
sand,  from  which  a  warm  mist,  that  softened  every  object 
near,  seemed  to  be  called  out  by  its  golden  beams.  Brad- 
shawe  shaded  his  eyes  with  his  hand  to  see  if  he  could 
descry  an  approaching  object,  while  Bettys,  who  had  al 
ready  drawn  his  bridle,  motioned  impatiently  for  him  to 
retire  among  the  trees. 

"  Give  me  one  of  your  pistols,  Joe,"  cried  Bradshawe. 
"  It  is  but  a  single  mounted  traveller  ;  I  can  make  him  out 
now  clearly,  and  I'm  determined  to  put  a  question  or  two 
to  the  fellow." 

"  Well,  captain,  you  know  best ;  only  I  thought  it  might 
be  a  pity  to  slit  the  poor  devil's  throat  to  prevent  his  car 
rying  news  of  us  to  Albany ;  and  that,  you  know,  we 
must  do  if  we  once  come  to  speech  of  him." 

"  How  know  you  but  what  he  may  be  a  king's  man,  and 
assist  us — or  a  mail-rider,  and  give  us  some  rebel  news  of 
value?  Draw  off,  Joe,  and  leave  me  to  fix  him."  But 
Bettys  had  already  trotted  aside  into  the  wood,  where  he 
managed  to  keep  nearly  a  parallel  route  with  Bradshawe, 
who,  clapping  Bettys'  pistol  in  his  bosom,  and  loosing  in 
its  scabbard  the  sword  with  which  that  worthy  had  pro 
vided  him  in  the  first  hour  of  his  escape,  now  jogged  easily 
forward  to  meet  the  traveller. 

As  they  approached  each  other  more  nearly,  and  Brad 
shawe  got  a  closer  survey  of  the  coming  horseman,  there 
seemed  something  about  him  which  promised  that  he 
might  not  be  quite  so  easily  dealt  with  as  the  Tory  cap 
tain  had  at  first  anticipated. 


502  GREYSLAER; 


His  drab  hat  and  leather  hunting-shirt  indicated  only 
the  character  of  a  common  hunter  of  the  border  or  fron 
tiersman  of  the  period.  But  though  he  carried  neither 
rifle  on  his  shoulder  nor  pistol  at  his  belt,  and  while  the 
light  cutlass  or  couteau  de  chasse  by  his  side  seemed  feebly 
matched  with  the  heavy  sabre  of  the  Tory  captain,  there 
was  a  look  of  compact  strength  and  vigor — a  something 
of  military  readiness  and  precision  about  the  man,  which 
stamped  him  as  one  who  might  often  have  borne  an  ani 
mated  share  in  the  fierce  personal  struggles  of  the  times  ; 
a  man  to  whom,  in  short,  an  attack  like  that  meditated  by 
Bradshawe  could  bring  none  of  the  confusing  terrors  of 
novelty. 

The  stranger,  who  seemed  so  occupied  with  his  own 
thoughts  as  scarcely  to  notice  Bradshawe  in  the  first  in 
stance,  now  eyed  him  with  a  curious  and  almost  wild 
gaze  of  earnestness  as  they  approached  each  other. 

Bradshawe,  on  the  other  side,  surveyed  the  borderer's 
features  with  a  stern  and  immovable  gaze,  till  his  own 
kindling  suddenly  with  a  strange  gleam  of  intelligence,  he 
plucked  forth  his  pistol  and  presented  it  within  a  few  feet 
of  the  other  horseman. 

"  The  rebel  Bait,  by  G — d  !"  he  cried.  "  Dismount,  or 
die  on  the  instant." 

The  back  of  the  woodsman  was  toward  the  sun,  and 
his  broad-brimmed  hat  so  shaded  his  features  that  his 
assailant  could  scarcely  scan  them  to  advantage ;  but  if 
the  suddenness  of  the  assault  did  in  any  way  change  the 
evenness  of  his  pulse,  not  a  muscle  or  a  nerve  betrayed 
the  weakness. 

"  I  know  ye,  Lawyer  Wat  Bradshawe,"  said  he,  calmly, 


A    EOMANCE    OF     THE    MOHAWK.  503 

"  bat  I  don't  know  what  caper  ye'd  be  at  in  trying  to  scare 
an  old  neighbor  after  this  fashion — I  don't  noways." 

A  grim  smile  played  over  the  harsh  features  of  Brad- 
shawe,  as  if  even  his  felon  heart  could  be  touched  by  ad 
miration  at  finding  a  foeman  as  dauntless  as  himself. 

"  Real  pluck,  by  heavens !"  he  ejaculated.  "  Bait,  you're 
a  pretty  fellow,  and  no  mistake ;  had  you  trembled  the 
vibration  of  a  hair,  I  should  have  shot  you  dead  ;  but  it's 
a  pity  to  spoil  such  a  true  piece  of  man's  flesh  if  one  can 
help  it.  Give  me  that  fresh  gelding  of  yours,  my  old  cock, 
and  you  shall  go  free." 

"  Tormented  lightning  !  Give  you  Deacon  Yates's  six- 
year-old  gray  ?  That  indeed  !  And  who  in  all  thunder, 
squire,  would  lend  Uncle  Bait  another  horse,  if  I  gin  up 
this  critter  for  the  asking?" 

"  Pshaw,  pshaw  !  Don't  think,  old  trapper,  you  can 
come  over  me  with  your  mock  simplicity.  I  don't  want 
to  make  a  noise  here  with  my  fire-arms,  so  save  me  the 
trouble  of  blowing  you  through  by  dismounting  instantly." 

As  Bradshawe  spoke  thus,  the  pistol,  which,  ready 
cocked,  he  had  hitherto  kept  steadily  pointed  at  the  breast 
of  his  opponent,  suddenly  went  off.  The  ball  grazed  the 
side  of  the  woodsman  with  a  force  which,  though  it  did 
not  materially  injure  him,  yet  fairly  turned  him  round  in 
the  saddle. 

The  swords  of  both  were  out  on  the  instant,  while  their 
horses,  plunging  with  affright,  simultaneously  galloped 
along  the  road  in  the  direction  in  which  Bait  was  travelling. 
With  two  such  riders,  however,  they  were  soon  made 
obedient  to  the  rein.  Bait,  in  fact,  had  his  almost  instantly 
in  hand,  whL  „  Bradshawe's  tired  steed  was  easily  con 
trolled.  But  their  training  had  never  fitted  them  for 


504  GREYSLAER; 


such  encounters  ;  and  the  gleaming  of  weapons  so  terri 
fied  the  animals,  that  it  was  almost  impossible  for  their 
riders  to  close  within  striking  distance  of  each  other. 

Bait,  who  had  the  advantage  of  spurs  in  forcing  his 
horse  forward  and  keeping  his  front  to  his  opponent,  had 
twice  an  opportunity  of  plunging  his  sword  into  the  back 
of  Bradshawe,  as  the  ploughman's  nag  of  the  latter  reared 
and  wheeled  each  time  their  blades  clashed  above  his 
head ;  and  it  is  probable  that  the  wish  to  make  prisoner 
of  Bradshawe,  rather  than  any  humane  scruple  upon  the 
part  of  the  worthy  woodsman,  alone  prevented  his  using 
the  unchivalrous  advantage. 

But  now  Bait,  if  he  would  keep  his  life,  must  not  again 
forego  such  vantage.  A  third  horseman  gallops  out  from 
the  wood,  and  urges  forward  to  the  aid  of  the  hard-pressed 
Bradshawe  ;  and  shrewdly  does  the  Tory  captain  require 
such  aid ;  for  his  horse,  backed  against  a  bank  where  the 
road  has  been  worn  down  or  excavated  a  foot  or  more  in 
depth,  stands  with  his  hind  legs  planted  in  a  deep  rut,  and, 
unable  to  wheel  or  turn,  must  needs  confront  the  stouter 
and  more  active  steed  of  the  opposing  horseman,  whose 
fierce  and  rapid  blows  are  with  the  greatest  difficulty  par 
ried  by  his  rider.  But  the  third  combatant  is  now  within  a 
few  yards  of  the  woodsman,  who,  as  he  hears  the  savage 
cry  of  this  new  assailant  behind  him,  wheels  so  quickly 
that  he  passes  his  sword  through  the  man  in  the  same 
instant  that  a  pistol-shot  from  the  other  takes  effect  in 
the  body  of  his  charger. 

"Oh  !  captain,  the  d — d  rebel  has  done  for  me,"  cried 
Bettys,  tumbling  from  his  horse  in  the  same  r.  oraent  that 
Bait  gained  his  feet,  unhurt  by  the  fall  of  !i;s  own  char 
ger,  and  sprang  forward  to  grasp  the  bit  of  Bradshawe's 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  505 

horse  ;  but  that  doughty  champion  had  already  extricated 
himself  from  the  ground  where  he  fought  to  such  disad 
vantage.  He  met  the  attempt  of  Bait  with  one  furious 
thrust,  which  happily  failed  in  its  effect ;  and,  seeing  a 
teamster  approaching  in  the  distance,  darted  into  the 
woods,  and  was  soon  lost  to  the  eyes  of  his  dismounted 
opponent. 

"Are  you  much  hurt,  .Mr.  Bettys?"  said  Bait,  not  un 
kindly,  as  he  now  recognized  the  wounded  man  while  ap 
proaching  him. 

"Hurt?"  groaned  Bettys.  "I'm  used  up  completely. 
That  cursed  iron  has  done  for  me  in  this  world,  Uncle 
Bait." 

•'And  I  fear,"  said  the  woodsman,  gravely,  "you've 
done  for  yourself  in  the  other." 

"  No  !  by  Heaven,"  said  the  stout  royalist ;  "  there's  not 
a  rebel  life  that  I  grieve  for  having  shortened. — No  !  as  a 
true  man,  there's  but  one  deed  that  sticks  in  my  gizzard  to 
answer  for,  and  that,  old  man,  is  a  trick  I  played  long  be 
fore  Joe  Bettys  thought  of  devoting  himself  to  the  king's 
lawful  rights — God  save  him." 

"  Pray  God  to  save  yourself,  rayther,  while  your  hand's 
in  at  praying,  poor  benighted  critter,"  said  Bait,  in  a  tone 
of  commiseration,  even  while  an  indignant  flush  reddened 
his  swarthy  brow.  "  Let  every  man  paddle  his  own 
canoe  his  own  way,  is  always  my  say,  Mr.  Bettys  ;  but 
you  had  better  lighten  yours  a  little  while  making  a  por 
tage  from  this  life  to  launch  upon  etarnity." 

"  Yet  I  meant  it  not — I  meant  it  not,"  said  the  wounded 
man,  unheeding  Bait.  "  Wild  Wat  swore  it  was  but  a 
catch  to  serve  for  a  season  ;  that  he  would  make  an  honest 


506  GREYSLAER; 


woman  of  her  afterward.  But  this  infernal  story — that 
boy  too — oh " 

Bait,  with  wonderful  quickness,  seemed  instantly  to 
light  upon  and  follow  out  the  train  of  thought  which  the 
broken  words  of  the  wounded  man  thus  partially  betray 
ed  ;  and  yet  his  aptitude  in  seizing  them  is  hardly  strange, 
when  we  remember  that  it  was  the  full  preoccupation  of 
his  thoughts  with  the  affairs  of  Alida  which  enabled  Brad- 
shawe  to  take  him  at  disadvantage  so  shortly  before.  He 
saw  instantly,  or  believed  he  saw,  that  Bettys'  revelation 
referred  to  her;  but  having  as  yet  only  the  feeblest  clew 
to  her  real  story,  it  behooved  him  to  be  cautious  in  betray 
ing  the  extent  of  what  he  knew.  He  did  not  attempt, 
therefore,  to  question  the  wounded  man  as  to  what  he  had 
first  said,  but  only  to  lead  him  forward  in  his  confession. 

"  Yes,  the  boy — the  poor  boy — and  his  father — "  said 
he,  partly  echoing  the  words  of  Bettys  as  he  bent  over 
him. 

"  His  father  ?  Yes,  Dirk  de  Roos  left  mischief  enough 
behind  him  to  punish  his  memory  for  that  wild  business. 
But  we  were  all  gay  fellows  in  those  days — "  some  pleas 
ant  memories  seemed  to  come  over  Bettys  as  he  paused 
for  a  moment ;  but  he  groaned  in  spirit  as  he  resumed, 
"  And  Fenton,  too,  Squire  Fenton,  who  took  the  deposition 
of  the  squaw — they're  gone  both  of  them — they  are  both 
gone  now,  and  I — I  too  am  going — where — where " 

The  loss  of  blood  here  seemed  to  weaken  Bettys  so 
suddenly  that  he  could  say  no  more.  The  approaching 
wagoner  had  by  this  time  reached  the  spot ;  and  when 
Bait  had  lifted  the  fainting  form  of  the  wounded  Tory 
into  his  wagon,  and  bound  up  his  wounds  as  well  as  he 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  507 

was  able,  the  teamster  willingly  consented  to  carry  Bet 
tys  to  the  nearest  house  on  the  borders  of  the  forest. 

In  a  few  moments  afterward,  Bait,  having  caught  Bet 
tys'  horse,  which  was  cropping  the  herbage  near,  threw 
himself  into  the  saddle,  made  the  best  of  his  way  back  to 
Schenectady,  got  a  fresh  nag,  and  hurried  with  all  speed 
to  the  Hawksnest. 


508  GREYSLAER; 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE    TRIAL. 


"  Loredano.     Who  would  have  thought  that  one  so 

widely  trusted, 

A  hero  in  our  wars,  one  who  has  borne 
Honors  unnumbered  from  the  generous  state, 
Could  prove  himself  a  murderer  ? 

Padoero.    We  must  look 
More  closely  ere  we  judge — 

Be  it  ours  to  weigh 

Proofs  and  defence.     We  may  not  spill  the  blood 
Of  senators  precipitately,  nor  keep 
The  axe  from  the  guilty,  though  it  strike  the  noblest." 

MRS.  ELLET. 


AT  this  distant  day,  when  we  can  calmly  review  all 
the  facts  which  led  to  Max  Greyslaer's  being  put  upon 
trial  for  his  life,  there  would  hardly  seem  to  be  sufficient 
evidence  against  him  even  to  warrant  the  indictment 
under  which  he  was  tried.  It  must  be  recollected,  how 
ever,  that  the  force  of  circumstantial  evidence  is  always 
much  enhanced  by  the  state  of  public  opinion  at  the  time 
it  is  adduced  against  a  culprit;  nor  should  we,  whose 
minds  are  wholly  unbiassed  by  the  fierce  political  preju 
dices  which  clouded  the  judgment  and  warped  the  opin 
ions  of  men  in  those  excited  times,  pass  upon  their  actions 
without  making  many  charitable  allowances  for  the  con 
dition  of  things  which  prompted  those  actions. 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  5Q9 

The  clemency  which  the  noble-hearted  Lafayette — who, 
being  then  in  charge  of  the  northern  department  of  the 
army  of  the  United  States,  had  his  headquarters  at  Al 
bany — the  clemency  which  this  right-minded  leader  and 
statesman  exercised  toward  Walter  Bradshawe,  by  ame 
liorating  the  rigors  of  his  confinement,  and  even  (if  tradi 
tion  may  be  believed)  permitting  him  to  be  present  at  his 
levees,  affords  sufficient  proof  how  public  opinion  may  be 
perverted  in  favor  of  a  criminal  by  the  subtle  arts  and  in 
defatigable  labors  of  a  zealous  faction  working  in  his  be 
half.  If  one  so  keenly  alive  to  everything  that  was  just 
and  honorable  as  Lafayette,  could  be  blinded  as  to  the 
real  character  and  deserts  of  a  detected  spy  like  Brad 
shawe,  is  it  wonderful  that  the  intrigues  of  the  same  fac 
tion  which  reprieved  his  name  from  present  infamy,  should 
for  the  time  awaken  the  popular  clamor  against  the  be 
sotted  admirer  of  a  woman  whose  fair  fame  was  already 
blasted  by  its  association  \vith  that  of  an  Indian  para 
mour  ? 

How  far  the  grand  jury  which  returned  the  indictment 
against  Greyslaer  were  influenced  by  that  clamor,  and 
what  underhand  share  the  great  portion  of  its  members 
may  have  had  in  first  raising  it,  we  shall  not  now  say. 
Those  men,  with  their  deeds,  whether  of  good  or  evil, 
have  all  passed  away  from  the  earth ;  it  is  not  our  duty 
to  sit  in  judgment  upon  them  here,  nor  is  it  necessary  for 
us  to  examine  into  the  feelings  and  principles,  whether 
honest  or  otherwise,  by  which  those  deeds  were  actuated. 

Something  is  due,  however,  to  the  leading  Whigs  of 
Albany,  who  allowed  the  issue  of  life  and  death  to  be 
joined  under  the  circumstances  which  we  have  detailed  ; 
something  to  extenuate  the  cold  indifference  with  which 


510  GREYSLAER; 


they  appear  to  have  permitted  the  proceedings  to  be  hur 
ried  forward,  and  the  life  and  character  of  one  of  their 
own  members,  not  wholly  unknown  for  his  patriotic  ser 
vices,  to  be  thus  jeoparded ;  and,  happily,  their  conduct 
upon  the  occasion  is  so  easily  explained  that  a  very  few 
words  will  possess  the  reader  of  everything  we  have  to 
say  upon  the  subject. 

The  horrid  crime  of  assassination  was  in  those  days  of 
civil  discord  but  too  common,  while  each  party,  as  is  well 
known,  attempted  to  throw  the  stigma  of  encouraging 
such  enormities  upon  the  other.  The  life  of  General 
Schuyler,  of  Councillor  Taylor,  and  of  several  other 
Whig  dignitaries  of  the  province  of  New  York,  had  been 
repeatedly  attempted  ;  and  when  the  outrage  was  charged 
upon  the  Tory  leaders,  their  reply  was  ever  that  these 
were  only  retaliatory  measures  for  similar  cruelties  prac 
tised  by  the  patriot  party ;  though  the  cold-blooded  mur 
der  of  a  gallant  and  regretted  British  officer  by  a  wild 
bush-fighter  on  the  northern  frontier  was  the  only  instance 
of  this  depravity  that  is  now  on  record  against  the  Repub 
licans.  Still,  as  the  Whigs  had  always  claimed  to  be 
zealous  supporters  of  all  the  laws  which  flow  from  a  free 
constitution,  they  were  galled  by  this  charge  of  their  op 
ponents  ;  and  the  desire  to  wipe  off  the  imputation  from 
themselves,  and  fix  the  stigma  where  alone  it  should 
attach,  rendered  them  doubly  earnest  in  seeking  to  bring 
an  offender  of  their  own  party  to  justice.  They  were 
eager  to  prove  to  the  country  that  they  were  warring 
against  despotism  and  not  against  law ;  and  that,  wher 
ever  the  Whig  party  were  sufficiently  in  the  ascendency 
to  regulate  the  operation  of  the  laws,  they  should  be  en 
forced  with  the  most  impartial  rigor  against  all  offenders. 


A    ROMANCE    OF     THE    MOHAWK.  511 

In  the  present  instance,  these  rigid  upholders  of  justice, 
as  old  Bait  the  hunter  used  afterward  to  say,  "  stood  so 
straight  that  they  rayther  slanted  backwards." 

The  appearance  of  Greyslaer  upon  the  eventful  morn 
ing  of  his  trial  was  remembered  long  afterward  by  more 
than  one  of  the  many  females  who  crowded  the  court 
room  on  the  occasion  ;  but  when  long  years  and  the  inter 
vention  of  many  a  stirring  theme  among  the  subsequent 
scenes  of  the  Revolution  had  made  his  story  nearly  for 
gotten,  the  antiquated  dame  who  flourished  at  that  day 
would  still  describe  to  her  youthful  hearers  the  exact  ap 
pearance  of  "young  Major  Max"  as  his  form  emerged 
from  the  crowd,  which  gave  way  on  either  side,  while  he 
strode  forward  to  take  his  place  in  the  prisoner's  box. 

The  gray  travelling  suit  in  which  he  came  to  Albany, 
and  which  he  now  wore,  offering  no  military  attraction  to 
dazzle  the  eye,  the  first  appearance  of  the  prisoner  disap 
pointed  many  a  fair  gazer,  who  had  fully  expected  to  see 
the  victim  of  justice  decked  out  with  all  the  insignia  of 
his  rank  as  a  major  in  the  Continental  army.  But  his 
closely-fitting  riding  dress  revealed  the  full  proportions  of 
his  tall  and  manly  figure  far  better,  perhaps,  than  would 
the  loose  habiliments,  whose  broad  skirts  and  deep  flaps 
gave  such  an  air  of  travestie  to  the  unsoldier-like  uniforms 
of  that  soldierly  day.  And  the  most  critical  of  the  giddy 
lookers-on  acknowledged  that  it  would  be  a  pity  that  the 
dark  brown  locks,  which  floated  loosely  upon  the  shoulders 
of  the  handsome  culprit,  should  have  been  cued  up  and 
powdered  after  the  fashion  which  our  Revolutionary 
heroes  copied  from  the  military  costume  of  the  great 
Frederic.  But,  however,  these  trifling  traditional  details 
may  interest  some,  we  are  dwelling  perhaps  too  minutely 


512  GREYSLAER; 


upon  them,  when  matters  of  such  thrilling  moment  press 
so  nearly  upon  our  attention. 

Before  the  preliminary  forms  of  the  trial  were  entered 
upon,  it  was  observed  by  the  officers  of  the  court  that  the 
prisoner  at  the  bar  seemed  wholly  unprovided  with 
counsel ;  and  the  presiding  judge,  glancing  toward  an 
eminent  advocate,  seemed  about  to  suggest  to  Major 
Greyslaer  that  his  defence  had  better  be  intrusted  to  a 
more  experienced  person  than  himself.  Greyslaer  rose, 
thanked  him  for  his  half-uttered  courtesy,  and  signified  that 
he  hfid  already  resisted  the  persuasions  of  the  few  friends 
who  were  present  to  adopt  the  course  which  was  so  kindly 
intimated;  but  that  he  was  determined  that  no  means  but 
his  own  should  be  used  to  extricate  him  from  the  painful 
situation  in  which  he  was  placed.  His  story  was  a  plain 
one ;  and  when  once  told,  he  should  throw  himself  upon 
God  and  his  country  for  an  honorable  acquittal. 

The  words  were  few,  and  the  tone  in  which  the  prisoner 
spoke  was  so  low,  that  nothing  but  the  profound  silence 
of  the  place,  and  the  clear,  silvery  utterance  of  the  speaker, 
permitted  them  to  be  audible.  Yet  they  were  heard  in 
the  remotest  corner  of  that  crowded  court ;  and  the  im 
pression  upon  the  audience  was  singularly  striking,  con 
sidering  the  commonplace  purport  which  those  few  words 
conveyed. 

There  is,  however,  about  some  men  a  character  of  re 
finement,  that  carries  a  charm  with  it  in  their  slightest 
actions.  It  is  not  that  mere  absence  of  all  vulgarity,  which 
may  be  allowed  to  constitute  the  negative  gentleman,  but 
a  positive  spiritual  influence,  which  impresses,  more  or 
less,  even  the  coarsest  natures  with  which  they  are  brought 
in  contact. 


A  ROMANCE  OF  THE  MOHAWK. 


Max  Greyslaer  was  one  of  the  fortuate  few  who  have 
possessed  this  rare  gift  of  nature,  and  its  exercise  availed 
him  now  ;  for,  ere  he  resumed  his  seat,  every  one  present 
felt,  as  by  instinct,  that  it  was  impossible  for  that  man  to 
be  guilty  of  the  brutal  crime  of  murder! 

The  trial  proceeded.  The  jury  were  impannelled  with 
out  delay,  for  there  was  no  one.  to  challenge  them  in  behalf 
of  the  prisoner;  and  he  seemed  strangely  indifferent  as 
to  the  preliminary  steps  of  his  trial.  The  distinguished 
gentleman  who  at  that  time  filled  the  office  of  attorney- 
general  for  the  State  of  New  York,  was  absent  upon  ofecial 
duty  in  another  district.  But  his  place  was  supplied  by 
one  of  the  ablest  members  of  the  Albany  bar,  who,  though 
he  had  no  professional  advocate  to  oppose  him,  opened  his 
cause  with  a  degree  of  cautiousness  which  proved  his 
respect  for  the  forensic  talents  of  the  prisoner  at  the  bar. 
His  exordium,  indeed,  which  was  conceived  with  great 
address,  consisted  chiefly  of  a  complimentary  tribute  to 
those  talents;  and  he  dwelt  so  happily  upon  the  mental 
accomplishments  of  the  gentleman  against  whom  a  most 
unpleasant  public  duty  had  now  arrayed  his  own  feeble 
powers,  that  Greyslaer  was  not  only  made  to  appear  a  sort 
of  intellectual  giant,  who  could  cleave  his  way  through 
any  meshes  of  the  law  ;  but  the  patriotic  character,  the 
valuable  military  services,  and  all  the  endearing  personal 
qualities  of  the  prisoner,  which  might  have  enlisted  public 
sympathy  in  his  favor,  were  lost  sight  of  in  the  bright  but 
icy  renown  which  was  thrown  around  his  mental  abilities. 

In  a  word,  the  prisoner  was  made  to  appear  as  a  man 

who  needed  neither  aid,  counsel,  nor  sympathy  from  any 

one  present  ;  and  the  jury  were  adroitly  put  on  their  guard 

'inst    the   skilful    defence  of  one   so   able,  that    nothing 

23 


514  JEYSLAER; 


but  the  excellence  of  his  cause  would  have  induced  the 
speaker,  with  all  the  professional  experience  of  a  life  passed 
chiefly  in  the  courts  of  criminal  law,  to  cope  with  him. 
He  (the  counsel  for  the  prosecution)  would,  in  fact,  have 
called  for  some  assistance  in  his  own  most  difficult  task, 
in  order  that  the  majesty  of  the  laws  might  be  asserted  by 
some  more  eloquent  servant  of  .the  people  than  himself, 
but  that  some  of  his  most  eminent  brethren  at  the  bar, 
upon  whom  he  chiefly  relied,  were  absent  from  the  city ; 
and,  though  the  evidence  against  the  prisoner  was  so  plain 
that  he  who  runs  may  read,  still  his  duty  was  so  very  pain 
ful  that  he  felt  that  he  might  not  set  forth  that  evidence 
with  the  same  force  and  circumspection  that  might  attend 
his  efforts  under  lass  anxious  circumstances. 

Having  succeeded  thus  in  effecting  a  complete  revolu 
tion  as  to  the  different  grounds  occupied  by  himself  and 
the  unfortunate  Max,  the  wily  lawyer  entered  more  boldly 
into  his  subject.  And  if  Greyslaer,  who  as  yet  had  hardly 
surmised  the  drift  of  his  discourse,  blushed  at  the  compli 
ments  which  had  been  paid  to  his  understanding,  he 
now  reddened  with  indignation  as  the  cunning  tongue  of 
detraction  became  busy  with  his  character;  but  his  ire 
.instantly  gave  way  to  contempt  when  the  popular  pleader 
.came  to  a  part  of  his  speech  in  which,  with  an  ill-judged 
.reliance  upon  the  sordid  prejudices  of  his  hearers,  he  had 
the  audacity  to  attempt  rousing  their  political  feelings  by 
.painting  the  young  soldier  as  by  birth  and  feeling  an  aris 
tocrat,  the  son  and  representative  of  a  courtier  colonel, 
who  in  his  lifetime  had  always  acted  with  the  patrician 
party  ia  the  colony.  The  allusion,  which  formed  the 
climax  of  a  well-turned  period,  brought  Greyslaer  in 
stantly  to  his  feet ;  nnd  he  stretched  out  his  arm  as  if  about 


A     ROMANCE     OF    THE    MOHAWK.  515 

to  interrupt  the  speaker.  But  his  look  of  proud  resentment 
changed  suddenly  into  one  of  utter  scorn  as  he  glanced 
around  the  court.  His  equanimity  at  once  returned  to 
him;  and  he  resumed  his  place,  uttering  only,  in  a  calm 
voice,  the  words,  "  You  may  go  on,  sir." 

The  shrewd  lawyer  became  fully  aware  of  his  mistake 
from  the  suppressed  murmur  which  pervaded  the  room 
before  he  could  resume.  He  had,  by  these  few  last  words, 
undone  all  that  he  had  previously  effected.  He  had  caused 
every  one  present  to  remember  who  and  what  the  prisoner 
was  up  to  the  very  moment  when  he  stood  here  upon  trial 
for  his  life. 

The  experienced  advocate  did  not,  however,  attempt  to 
eat  his  words,  or  flounder  back  to  the  safe  ground  he  had 
so  incautiously  left,  but  hurried  on  to  the  next  branch  of 
the  subject  as  quickly  as  possible  ;  and  now  came  the 
most  torturing  moment  for  Greyslaer.  The  speaker 
dropped  his  voice  to  tones  of  mystic  solemnity ;  and  al 
most  whispering,  as  if  he  feared  the  very  walls  might 
echo  the  hideous  tale  he  had  to  tell  if  spoken  louder, 
thrilled  the  ears  of  all  present  with  the  relation  of  the- 
monstrous  loves  of  Alida  and  Isaac  Brant,  even  as  the 
foul  lips  of  Bradshawe  had  first  retailed  the  scandal. 

The  cold  drops  stood  upon  the  brow  of  Greyslaer ;  and 
as  the  low,  impassioned,  and  most  eloquent  tones  of  the 
speaker  crept  into  his  ears,  he  listened  shuddering.  Fain 
would  he  have  shut  up  his  senses  against  the  sounds  that 
were  distilled  like  blistering  dew  upon  them,  but  his  fac 
ulty  of  hearing  seemed  at  once  sharpened  and  fixed  with 
the  same  involuntary  intenseness  which  rivets  the  gaze  of 
'  tlio  spell-bound  bird  upon  its  serpent-charmer.  And 
when  the  speaker  again  paused,  ho  drew  the  long  breath 


516  GRETSLAER; 


which  the  chest  of  the  dreamer  will  heave  when  some 
horrid  fiction  of  the  night  uncoils  itself  from  his  laboring 
fancy. 

The  advocate  ventured  then  to  return  once  more  to  the 
character  of  the  prisoner  himself  ere  he  closed  this  most 
unhappy  history.  He  now,  though,  only  spoke  of  him  as 
the  luckless  victim  of  an  artful  and  most  abandoned  wo 
man.  But  he  had  not  come  there,  he  said,  to  deplore  the 
degradation  which,  amid  the  unguarded  passions  of  youth, 
might  overtake  a  mind  of  virtue's  richest  and  noblest  pro 
mise.  The  public  weal,  alas  !  imposed  upon  him,  and 
upon  the  intelligent  gentlemen  who  composed  the  jury  be 
fore  him,  a  far  sterner  duty — a  duty  which,  painful  as  it 
was,  must  still  be  rigidly,  impartially  fulfilled.  And  no 
matter  what  accidents  of  fortune  may  have  surrounded 
the  prisoner — no  matter  what  pleading  associations,  con 
nected  with  his  youth  and  his  name,  might  interpose  them 
selves — no  matter  what  sorrowful  regrets  must  mingle 
with  the  righteous  verdict  the  evidence  would  compel 
them  to  give  in,  they  were  answerable  alike  to  God  and 
their  country  for  that  which  they  should  this  day  record 
ns  the  fruth. 

The  testimony,  as  we  have  already  detailed  it,  was  then 
entered  into ;  and,  as  the  reader  is  in  possession  of  the 
evidence,  it  need  not  be  recapitulated  here. 

Greyslaer  seemed  to  have  no  questions  to  put  in  cross- 
examination  of  the  witnesses  for  the  prosecution,  and  this 
part  of  the  proceedings  was  soon  disposed  of.  The  im 
pression  made  by  the  testimony  was  so  strong,  that  the 
prosecuting  attorney  scarcely  attempted  to  enforce  it  by 
any  comments,  and  now  the  prisoner  for  the  first  time 
opened  his  lips  in  his  own  defence. 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  5i7 

"  I  come  not  here,"  said  Greyslaer,  "  to  struggle  for  a 
life  which  is  now  valueless  ;  and,  though  there  are  flaws 
in  the  evidence  just  given  which  the  plain  story  I  might 
tell  would,  I  think,  soon  make  apparent  to  all  who  hear 
me,  I  am  willing  to  abide  by  the  testimony  as  it  stands. 
I  mean,"  said  he,  with  emphasis,  "  the  testimony  immedi 
ately  relating  to  the*  transaction  which  has  placed  me 
where  I  am.  But,  regardless  as  I  may  be  of  the  issues  of 
this  trial  as  respects  myself,  there  is  another  implicated  in 
its  results  whom  that  gentleman — I  thank  him  for  the  kind 
ness,  though  God  knows  he  little  meant  it  as  such — has 
given  me  the  opportunity  of  vindicating  before  the  com 
munity  where  she  has  been  so  cruelly  maligned.  Death 
for  me  has  no  terrors,  the  scaffold  no  shame,  if  the  pro 
ceedings  by  which  I  shall  perish  shall  providentially,  in 
their  progress,  make  fully  clear  her  innocence." 

The  counsel  for  the  prosecution  here  rose,  and  sug 
gested  that  the  unfortunate  prisoner  had  better  keep  to 
the  matter  immediately  before  the  court.  He  saw  no 
necessity  for  making  a  double  issue  in  the  trial,  &c.,  &c. 
The  spectators,  who  were  already  impressed  by  the  few 
words  which  Greyslaer  had  uttered,  murmured  audibly 
at  the  interruption.  But  Max  only  noticed  the  rudeness 
by  a  cold  bow  to  the  opposite  party,  as,  still  addressing 
the  court,  he  straightway  resumed: 

"  The  learned  advocate,  who  has  given  such  signal 
proofs  of  his  zeal  and  his  ability  in  this  day's  trial,  has  di 
rected  his  chief  efforts  to  prove  a  sufficient  motive  for  the 
commission  of  the  act  with  which  I  am  charged.  In  the 
attempt  to  accomplish  this,  the  name  of  a  most  unfortu 
nate  lady  has  been  dragged  before  a  public  court  in  a 
manner  not  less  cruel  than  revolting.  I  have  a  right  to 


518  GREYSLAER; 


disprove,  if  I  can,  the  motive  thus  alleged  to  criminate 
me ;  and  the  vindication  of  that  lady's  fame  is  thus  insep 
arably  connected  with  my  own.  But,  to  wipe  off  the  as 
persions  on  her  character,  I  must  have  time  to  send  for 
the  necessary  documents.  The  court  will  readily  believe 
that  I  could  never  have  anticipated  the  mode  in  which 
this  prosecution  has  been  conducted,  and  will  not,  there 
fore,  think  I  presume  upon  its  lenity  in  asking  for  a  sus 
pension  of  the  trial  for  two  days  only." 

The  court  looked  doubtingly  at  the  counsel  for  the  state, 
but  seemed  not  indisposed  to  grant  the  privilege  which 
the  prisoner  asked  with  such  confidence ;  but  the  keen 
advocate  was  instantly  upon  his  feet,  and,  urging  that  the 
prisoner  had  enjoyed  every  opportunity  of  choosing  such 
counsel  as  he  pleased,  insisted  that  it  was  too  late  to  put 
in  so  feeble  a  plea,  merely  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  time, 
in  the  vain  hope  of  ultimately  defeating  justice.  The 
calmness  of  Greyslaer,  the  apparent  indifference  to  his 
fate  which  had  hitherto  been  most  remarkable,  vanished 
the  instant  the  bench  had  announced  its  decision  against 
him  ;  and  his  voice  now  rang  through  the  crowded  cham 
ber  in  an  appeal  that  stirred  the  hearts  and  quickened  the 
pulses  of  everyone  around  him. 

"What !"  he  said,  "  is  the  life  of  your  citizens  so  value 
less  that  the  hollow  forms  of  the  law — the  law,  which  was 
meant  to  protect  the  innocent,  shall  thus  minister  to  their 
undoing  ?  Does  the  veil  of  justice  but  conceal  a  soulless 
image,  as  deaf  to  the  appeal  of  truth  as  she  is  painted  blind 
to  the  influence  of  favor  ?  Sir,  sir,  I  warn  you  how  you 
this  day  wield  the  authority  with  which  you  sit  there  in 
vested.  You,  sir,  are  but  the  servant  of  the  people  ;  and 
I,  though  standing  here  accused  of  felony,  am  still  one  of 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK. 


the  people  themselves,  until  a  jury  of  my  peers  has  passed 
upon  my  character.  An  hour  since,  and  irregular,  violent, 
and  unjust  as  I  knew  these  precipitate  proceedings  to  be, 
an  hour  since,  and  I  was  willing  to  abide  by  their  result, 
whatever  fatality  to  me  might  attend  it.  I  cared  not, 
recked  not  for  the  issue.  But  I  have  now  a  new  motive 
for  resisting  the  doom  which  it  seems  predetermined  shall 
be  pronounced  upon  me  ;  a  duty  to  perform  to  my  coun 
try,  which  is  far  more  compulsory  than  any  I  might  • 
to  myself.  Sir,  you  cannot,  you  shall  not,  you  dare  not  thus 
sacrifice  me.  It  is  the  judicial  murderof  an  American  citi 
zen  against  which  I  protest.  I  denounce  that  man  as  the  in 
strument  of  a  political  faction,  hostile  to  this  government, 
and  plotting  the  destruction  of  one  of  its  officers.  I  charge 
you,  sir,  with  aiding  and  abetting  in  a  conspiracy  to  take 
away  my  life.  I  call  upon  you  to  produce  the  evidence 
that  Walter  Bradshawe  is  not  yet  living.  I  assert  that 
that  man  and  his  friends  know  well  that  he  has  not  fallen 
by  my  hands,  and  that  they,  the  subtle  and  traitorous 
movers  of  this  daring  prosecution,  have  withdrawn  him 
for  a  season  only  to  effect  my  ruin.  Let  the  clerk  swear 
the  counsel  for  the  prosecution  ;  I  demand  him  to  take  his 
place  on  that  stand  as  my  first  witness  in  this  cause." 

Had  a  thunderbolt  crashed  in  the  midst  of  that  assem 
blage,  it  could  not  have  produced  a  greater  sensation  than 
did  this  master-stroke  of  intellectual  audacity.  There 
•was  none  of  the  grimacing  impudence  of  vulgar  villainy 
facing  down  truth,  in  the  heroic  assurance  of  the  man  who 
thus,  in  haughty  strength,  challenged  and  drnggod  down 
his  persecutors  into  the  lists  prepared  for  his  immolation. 
The  act  sprung  only  from  the  instant  resolve  of  a  d.i; 
a  direct,  and  powerful  mind,  confident  that  if  w;ts  sur- 


520  GKEYSLAEK; 


rounded  with  an  atmosphere  of  duplicity,  and  roused  to  a 
sublime  self-reliance,  a  Samson-like  antagonism  against 
the  monstrous  odds  of  a  vile,  an  unscrupulous,  and  seem 
ingly  overwhelming  opposition  ;  and  the  look,  not  less 
than  the  voice,  of  Greyslaer,  was  majestic,  as  he  stood 
there  defiant. 

As  we  have  said,  then,  the  effect  of  this  brief  and  bold 
appeal  upon  every  one  present  was  perfectly  astounding. 
But  its  influence  in  our  time  can  only  be  appreciated  by 
remembering  how  generally  the  taint  of  disaffection 
attached  to  the  upper  classes  of  society  in  the  province  of 
New  York,  and  how  -withering  to  character  was  the 
charge  of  Toryism,  unless  the  suspicion  could  be  instantly 
wiped  away.  It  would  seem,  too — though  Greyslaer 
had  only  ventured  upon  this  desperate  effort  to  turn  the 
tables  upon  his  persecutors  from  instinctive  conviction 
that  in  a  general  way  he  was  unfairly  dealt  with — it  would 
seem  that  there  was  really  some  foundation  for  the  specific 
charge  of  secret  disaffection  which  he  so  boldly  launched 
against  his  wily  foe.  For  the  lawyer  turned  as  pale  as 
death  at  the  words  wherewith  the  speech  of  Max  con 
cluded  ;  and  he  leaned  over  and  whispered  to  the  judge 
with  a  degree  of  agitation  which  was  so  evident  to  every 
one  who  looked  on,  that  his  altered  demeanor  had  the 
most  unfavorable  effect  for  the  cause  of  the  prosecution. 
What  he  said  was  inaudible,  but  its  purport  might  readily 
be  surmised  from  the  bench  announcing,  after  a  brief  col 
loquy,  "that  the  prisoner wasindeeperrorin  supposing  that 
the  counsel  for  the  prosecution  was  animated  by  any  feel 
ing  of  personal  hostility  toward  him.  That  learned  gen 
tleman  had  only  attempted  to  perform  the  painful  duty 
which  had  devolved  on  him,  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  as 


A     ROMANCE     OF     THE     MOHAWK. 


the  representative  of  a  public  officer  now  absent,  who  was 
an  immediate  servant  of  the  people.  As  an  individual 
merely,  the  known  benevolence  of  that  gentleman  would 
induce  him  to  wish  every  indulgence  granted  to  the  pris 
oner  ;  and,  even  in  his  present  capacity,  he  had  but  now 
interceded  with  the  bench  for  a  suspension  of  the  trial 
until  time  might  be  given  for  the  production  of  the  docu 
ments  which  the  accused  deemed  essential  to  his  defence. 
The  court  itself  was  grieved  to  think  that  the  prisoner  at 
the  bar  had  forfeited  all  title  to  such  indulgence  by  the 
unbecoming  language  he  had  just  used  in  questioning  the 
fairness  with  which  it  came  to  sit  upon  this  trial  ;  but  the 
situation  of  the  prisoner,  his  former  patriotic  services,  and 
his  general  moderation  of  character,  must  plead  in  excus 
ing  this  casual  outbreak  of  his  feelings,  if  no  intentional 
indignity  or  disrespect  to  the  court  was  intended.  These 
documents,  however,  it  is  supposed,  will  be  forthcoming 
as  soon  as  -  " 

"  Jist  as  soon,  yere  honor  —  axing  yere  honor's  pardon  — 
jist  as  soon  as  those  powdered  fellows  with  long  white 
poles  in  their  hands  will  make  room  for  a  chap  to  get 
through  this  'tarnal  piling  o'  people  and  come  up  to  yon 
der  table." 

"  Make  way,  there,  officer,  for  that  red-faced  man  with 
a  bald  head,  who  is  holding  up  those  papers  over  the 
heads  of  the  crowd  at  the  door,"  cried  the  good-natured 
judge  to  the  tipstaff,  the  moment  he  discovered  the  source 
whence  came  the  unceremonious  interruption. 

"Stand  aside,  will  ye,  rnanny  ?"  said  Bait,  now  elbow 
ing  his  way  boldly  through  the  crowd  ;  "don't  ye  see  it's 
the  judge  himself  there  that  wants  me?  Haven't  ye  kept 
me  long  enough  here,  bobbing  up  and  down  to  catch  the 


522  GREYS LAER; 


eye  of  the  major  ?  Make  way,  I  say,  feller  citerzens.  I'm 
Mowed  if  I  wouldn't  as  lief  run  the  gauntlet  through  as 
many  wild  Injuns.  Lor  !  how  pesky  hot  it  is,"  concluded 
the  countryman,  wiping  his  brow  as  he  got  at  last  within 
the  railing  which  surrounded  the  bar. 

"Come,  come,  my  good  fellow,"  said  the  judge,  "I  saw 
you  holding  up  some  papers  just  now  at  the  door  ;  why 
don't  you  produce  them,  and  tell  us  where  they  came 
from?" 

"Came  from?  Why,  where  else  but  out  of  the  brass 
beaufet  where  I  placed  'em  myself,  I  should  like  to  know  ! 
and  where  I  found  this  pocket-book  of  the  major's,  which  I 
thought  it  might  be  well  to  bring  along  with  me,  seeing  I 
had  to  break  the  lock,  and  it  might,  therefore,  be  no  longer 
safe  where  I  found  it." 

"  The  pocket-book  !  That  contains  the  very  paper  I 
want,"  cried  Greyslaer. 

"  It  doesn't  hold  all  on  'em  you'd  like  to  see  though,  I 
guess,  major,"  said  Bait,  handing  him  a  packet,  which  Max 
straightway  opened  before  turning  to  the  pocket-book,  and 
ran  his  eye  over  the  papers  : 

"  Memorandum  of  a  release  granted  by  Henry  Fenton 
to  the  heirs  of,  &c. ;  notes  of  land  sold  by  H.  F.  in  town 
ship  No.  7,  range  east,"  &c.  &c.,  murmured  Max  ;  and 
then  added  aloud,  "  these  appear  to  be  merely  some  pri 
vate  papers  of  the  late  Mr.  Fenton,  with  which  I  have  no 

concern ;  but  here  is  a  document "  said  he,  opening 

the  pocket-book. 

"  One  moment,  one  moment,  major,"  cried  Bait,  anx 
iously  ;  "  I  can't  read  written-hand,  so  I  brought  'em  all 
to  yc  to  pick  out  from  ;  but  I  mistrust  it  must  be  there  if 
you  look  carefully,  for  I  made  out  the  word  Max,  with  a 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE     MOHAWK.  593 

big  G  after  it,  when  I   first  took  those  papers  from  the 
clothes  of  Mr.  Fenton." 

Greyslaer  turned  over  the  papers  again  with  a  keener 
interest,  and  the  next  moment  read  aloud  : 

"  In  the  matter  of  Derrick  de  Roos,  junior,  and  Annatie, 
the  Indian  woman  ;  deposition  as  to  the  parentage  of 
Guise  or  Guisebert,  their  child,  born  out  of  wedlock,  taken 
before  Henry  Fenton,  justice  of  the  peace,  &c.,  certified 
copy,  to  be  deposited  with  Max  Greyslaer,  Esquire,  in 
testimony  of  the  claim  which  the  said  child  might  have 
upon  his  care  and  protection  as  the  near  friend  and  ward 
of  Derrick  de  Roos,  senior,  who,  while  living,  fully  ac 
knowledged  such  claim,  in  expiation  of  the  misdeeds  of 
his  son.  Witness,  HENRY  FENTON. 

"  N.  B. — The  mother  of  the  child  has,  with  her  infant, 
disappeared  from  the  country  since  this  deposition  was 
taken.  She  is  believed,  however,  to  be  still  living  among 
the  praying  Indians  of  St.  Regis,  upon  the  Canada  border. 

"H.  F." 

The  deposition,  whose  substance  was  given  in  this  en 
dorsement,  need  not  be  here  recapitulated ;  and  the  reader 
is  already  in  possession  of  the  letter  from  Bettys  to  Brad- 
shawe,  sufficiently  explaining  their  first  abduction  of  Miss 
de  Roos,*  which  letter  Greyslaer  straightway  produced 
from  the  pocket-book,  and  read  aloud  in  open  court.  The 
strong  emotion  which  the  next  instant  overwhelmed  him 
as  he  sank  back  into  his  seat,  prevented  Max  from  adding 
any  comment  to  this  unanswerable  testimony,  which  so 

*  See  chapter  vii.  book  iv 


GREYSLAEll; 


instantly  wiped  every  blot  from  the  fair  fame  of  his  be 
trothed. 

As  for  Bait,  he  only  folded  his  arms,  and  looked  sternly 
around  to  see  if  one  doubting  look  could  be  found  among 
that  still  assemblage  ;  but  the  next  moment,  as  he  rightly 
interpreted  the  respectful  silence  which  pervaded  the 
place,  he  buried  his  face  in  his  hat,  to  hide  the  tears  which 
burst  from  his  eyes  and  coursed  down  his  rude  and  fur 
rowed  cheeks. 

The  counsel  for  the  prosecution — who,  with  an  air  of 
courtesy  and  feeling,  at  once  admitted  the  authenticity  of 
these  documents — was  the  first  that  broke  the  stillness  of 
the  scene.  And  his  voice  rose  so  musically  soft  in  a  beau 
tiful  eulogium  upon  the  much-injured  lady,  whose  story 
had  for  the  moment  concentrated  every  interest,  that  his 
eloquence  was  worthy  of  a  far  better  heart  than  his  ; 
but,  gradually  changing  the  drift  of  his  discourse,  he 
brought  it  back  once  more  to  the  prisoner,  and  reminded 
the  jury  that  the  substantial  part  of  the  evidence  upon 
which  he  had  been  arraigned  was  as  forcible  as  ever.  The 
motive  for  Bradshawe's  destruction  at  the  hands  of  the 
accused  was  proved  even  more  strongly  than  before. 
There  was  no  man  present  but  must  feel  that  the  prisoner 
had  been  driven  to  vengeance  by  temptation,  such  as  the 
human  heart  could  scarcely  resist.  But,  deep  as  must  be 
our  horror  at  Bradshawe's  villainy,  and  painfully  as  we 
must  sympathize  with  the  betrothed  husband  of  that  cru 
elly  outraged  lady,  there  was  still  a  duty  to  perform  to 
the  law.  The  circumstances  which  had  been  proved 
might  induce  the  gentlemen  of  the  jury  to  recommend  the 
prisoner  to  the  executive  for  some  mitigation  of  a  mur 
derer's  punishment,  but  they  could  not  otherwise  affect 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE     MOHAWK.  f>;>5 

the  verdict  which  it  was  their  stern  and  sworn  duly  to 
render. 

''And  you  don't  mean  to  let  the  major  go,  arter  all  '?" 
said  Bait,  addressing  himself  to  the  lawyer  with  little  show 
ot  respect,  as  the  latter  concluded  his  harangue. 

"  Silence,  sir,  silence  ;  take  your  seat,"  said  a  tipstaff, 
touching  Bait  on  the  shoulder. 

"  And  why  haven't,!  as  good  a  right  to  speak  here  as 
that  smooth-tongued  chap  ?" 

"  You  must  keep  silence,  my  worthy  fellow,"  said  the 
judge.  "  I  shall  be  compelled  to  order  an  officer  to  re 
move  you  if  you  interrupt  the  proceedings  by  speaking 
again." 

"  But  I  will  speak  again,"  said  Bait,  slapping  his  hat 
indignantly  upon  the  table.  "  I  say,  you  Mister  Clark 
there,  take  the  Bible  and  qualify  me.  I'm  going  into  that 
witnesses'  box.  You  had  better  find  out  whether  Wat 
Bradshawe  is  dead  or  no  afore  you  hang  the  major  for 
killing  on  him." 

But  the  relation  which  Bait  had  to  give  is  too  impor 
tant  to  come  in  at  the  close  of  a  chapter,  and  it  may 
interest  the  reader  sufficiently  to  have  it  detailed  with 
somewhat  more  continuity  than  it  was  now  disclosed  by 
the  worthy  woodsman. 


526  GREYSLAER; 


CHAPTER    VII. 


CONCLUSIOJSf. 


"  And  thus  it  was  with  her, 
The  gifted  and  the  lovely — 
And  yet  once  more  the  strength 
Of  a  high  soul  sustains  her ;  in  that  hour 
She  triumphs  in  her  fame  that  he  may  hear 
Her  name  with  honor. 

Oh  let  the  peace 
Of  this  sweet  hour  be  hers." 

LUCY  HOOPER. 


LEAVING  Bait  to  tell  the  court  in  his  own  way  the  par 
ticulars  of  his  first  encounter  in  the  forest,  we  will  take 
up  his  story  from  the  moment  when  the  broken  revelation 
of  the  wounded  Bettys  prompted  the  woodsman  to  hurry 
back  to  the  Hawksnest,  where  he  had  deposited  the 
papers  of  the  deceased  Mr.  Fenton,  as  mentioned  in  the 
fifth  chapter  of  the  fourth  book  of  this  authentic  history. 

As  Bait  approached  the  neighborhood  of  the  Hawks- 
nest,  he  found  the  whole  country  in  alarm.  A  runner 
had  been  dispatched  from  Fort  Stanwix,  warning  the 
people  of  that  bold  and  extraordinary  inroad  of  a  handful 
of  refugees  which  took  place  early  in  the  summer  of  1778, 
when,  swelling  their  ranks  by  the  addition  to  their  number 
of  more  than  one  skulking  outlaw  and  many  secret  Tories. 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  527 

who  had  hitherto  continued  to  reside  upon  the  Mohawk, 
the  royalists  succeeded  in  carrying  off  both  booty  and 
prisoners  to  Canada,  disappearing  from  the  valley  as  sud 
denly  as  they  came. 

Teondetha  was  the  agent  who  brought  the  news  of  the 
threatened  incursion,  but  the  movements  of  the  refugees 
were  so  well  planned  that  they  managed  to  strike  only 
those  points  where  the  warning  came  too  late.  They 
were  heard  of  at  one  settlement,  when  they  had  already 
slaughtered  the  men,  carried  off  the  women  and  children, 
and  burned  the  dwellings  of  another  ;  and,  indeed,  so 
rapid  were  their  operations,  that  the  presence  of  these 
destroyers  was  felt  at  a  dozen  different  points  almost 
simultaneously.  They  were  first  seen  in  their  strength 
near  Fort  Hunter ;  they  desolated  the  farm-houses  be 
tween  there  and  "  Fonda's  Bush,"  swept  the  remote  set 
tlements  upon  either  side  of  their  northern  progress,  and 
finally  disappeared  at  the  "  Fish-house "  on  the  Sacon- 
daga. 

The  historian  seems  to  have  preserved  no  trace  of  their 
being  anywhere  resisted,  so  astounding  was  the  surprise 
of  the  country  people  at  this  daring  invasion  ;  but  tradition 
mentions  one  instance  at  least  where  their  inroad  received 
a  fatal  check. 

Bait,  who,  as  we  have  said,  was  hurrying  to  the 
Hawksnest  to  procure  the  papers  which,  while  clearing 
the  fair  fame  of  Alida,  have  already  given  so  important 
a  turn  to  the  trial  of  Greyslaer,  instantly  claimed  the  aid 
of  Teondetha  to  protect  the  property  of  his  friend  in  the 
present  exigence  ;  and,  with  Christian  Lansingh  and  two 
or  three  others,  these  experienced  border  warriors  threw 


528  OltEYyLAER; 


themselves  into  the  mansion,  and  prepared  to  defend  it 
until  the  storm  had  passed  by. 

Nor  was  the  precaution  wasted  ;  for  their  preparations 
for  defence  were  hardly  completed,  and  the  lapse  of  a  single 
night  passed  away,  when,  with  the  morrow's  dawn,  a 
squad  of  Tory  riders  was  seen  galloping  across  the  pas 
tures  by  the  river-side,  with  no  less  a  person  than  Walter 
Bradshawe  himself,  now  well  mounted  and  completely 
armed,  riding  at  their  head.  He  had  fallen  in  with  these 
brother  partisans  while  trying  to  effect  his  escape  across 
the  frontier,  obtained  the  command  of  a  dozen  of  the  most 
desperate  among  them,  and  readily  induced  his  followers, 
by  the  hope  of  booty,  to  make  an  attack  upon  the  Hawks- 
nest.  Whether  the  belief  that  Alida  was  still  dwelling 
there  induced  him  to  make  one  more  desperate  effort  to 
seize  her  person,  or  whether  he  only  aimed  at  striking 
some  daring  blow  ere  he  left  the  country  in  triumph — .a 
blow  which  would  make  his  name  a  name  of  terror  long 
upon  that  border — it  is  now  impossible  to  say.  But 
there,  by  the  cold  light  of  early  dawn,  Bait  soon  distin 
guished  him  at  the  head  of  his  gang  of  desperadoes. 

Early  as  was  the  hour,  Teondetha  had  already  crept 
out  to  scout  among  the  neighboring  hills ;  and  Bait, 
aware  of  his  absence,  felt  now  a  degree  of  concern  about 
his'fate  which  he  was  angry  with  himself  at  feeling  for  a 
"  Redskin,"  though  somehow,  almost  unknowingly,  he  had 
learned  to  love  the  youth.  He  had,  indeed,  no  appre 
hension  that  the  Oneida  had  been  already  taken  by  these 
more  than  savage  men  ;  but  as  the  morning  mist,  which 
rolled  up  from  the  river,  had  most  probably  hitherto  pre 
vented  Teondetha  from  seeing  their  approach,  Bait  feared 
that  he  might  each  moment  present  himself  upon  the  lawn 


A     ROMANCE     U  F     T  II  E     MO  11  A  W  X  . 


in  returning  to  the  house,  and  catch  the  eye  of  Bradshawe's 
followers  while  unconscious  of  the  danger  that  hovered 

O 

near. 

The  scene  that  followed  was,  however,  so  quickly  over, 
that  the  worthy  woodsman  had  but  little  time  for  further 
reflection. 

Bradshawe  had  evidently  expected  to  obtain  possession 
of  the  house  before  any  of  the  family  had  arisen  or  warn 
ing  of  his  approach  was  received  ;  and,  dividing  his  band 
as  he  neared  the  premises,  a  part  of  his  men  circled  the 
dwelling  and  galloped  up  a  lane  which  would  lead  them 
directly  across  the  lawn  toward  the  front  door  of  the 
house,  while  the  rest,  wheeling  off  among  the  meadows.. 
presented  themselves  at  the  same  time  in  the  rear. 

The  force  of  Bait  was  too  small  to  make  a  successful 
resistance  against  this  attack,  had  the  Tories  expected 
any  opposition,  or  had  they  been  determined  to  carry  the 
house  even  after  discovering  that  it  was  defended.  His 
rifles  were  so  few  in  number  that  they  were  barely  suffi 
cient  to  defend  one  side  of  the  house  at  a  time  ;  and, 
though  both  doors  and  windows  were  barricaded,  the 
woodsman  and  his  friends  could  not  long  have  sustained 
themselves  under  a  simultaneous  assault  upon  each  sepa 
rate  point. 

Bait,  however,  did  not  long  hesitate  how  to  receive  the 
enemy  ;  his  only  doubt  seemed  to  be,  for  the  moment, 
which  party  would  soonest  come  within  reach  of  his  lire. 

"  Kit  Lansigh,"  he  cried,  the  instant  he  saw  the  in«vi'- 
inent  from  his  look-out  place  in  the  giiblc,  "Ionic  ye  from 
the  front  windows,  and  see  if  the  gate  that  opens  from  the 
lane  upon  the  lawn  be  closed  or  no.  Quick,  as  yi-  love 
vere  life,  Kit." 


530  UREYSLAER; 


"  The  gate's  shut.  They  slacken  their  pace — they  draw 
their  bridles — they  fear  to  leap,"  shouted  Kit  the  next 
instant  in  reply.  "No — they  leap;  ah!  it's  only  one  of 
them — Bradshawe ;  but  he  has  not  cleared  it ;  the  gate 
crashes  beneath  his  horse;  his  girths  are  broken  ;  and  now 
they  all  dismount  to  let  their  horses  step  over  the  broken 
bars." 

"Enough,  enough,  Kit.  Spring  now,  lads,  to  the  back 
windows,  and  each  of  you  cover  your  man  as  the  riders 
from  the  meadow  come  within  shot.  But.  no  !  never  mind 
taking  them  separately,"  cried  Bait,  as  his  party  gained 
the  windows.  "Not  yet,  not  yet ;  when  they  double  that 
corner  of  the  fence.  Now,  now,  as  they  wheel,  as  they 
double,  take  them  in  range.  Are  you  ready?  Let  them 
have  it-1" 

A  volley-from  the  house  as  Bait  spoke  instantly  emptied 
several  saddles  ;  and  the  on-coming  troopers,  recoiling  in 
confusion  at  the  unexpected  attack,  turned  their  backs  and 
gained  a  safe  distance  as  quickly  as  possible. 

"Now,  lads,"  shouted  Bait,  "load  for  another  pepper 
ing  in  the  front ;"  and  already  the  active  borderers  have 
manned  the  upper  windows  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
house. 

But  the  assailants  here,  startled  by  the  sound  of  fire-arms 
and  the  rolling  smoke  which  they  saw  issuing  from  the 
rear  of  the  house,  hung  back,  and  would  not  obey  the  be 
hests  of  their  leader,  who  vainly  tried  to  cheer  them  on 
to  the  attack.  In  vain  did  Bradshawe  coax,  conjure,  and 
threaten.  His  followers  caught  sight  of  their  friends 
drawing  off  with  diminished  numbers  toward  the  end  of 
the  house.  They  saw  the  gleaming-  rifle-barrels  protrud 
ing  through  the  windows.  The}7  clustered  together,  and 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  ;331 

talked  eagerly  for  a  moment,  unheeding  the  frantic  ap 
peals  of  their  leader ;  and  now,  with  less  hesitation  than 
before,  they  leaped  the  broken  barrier  of  the  gate,  and 
were  in  full  retreat  down  the  lane. 

"  One  moment,  one  moment,  boys  ;  it's  a  long  shot,  but 
we'll  let  them  have  a  good-bye  as  they  turn  off  into  the 
pasture.  Ah,  I  feared  it  was  too  far  for  the  best  rifle 
among  us,"  added  Bait,  as  the  troopers,  apparently  un 
touched  by  the  second  volley,  still  galloped  onward. 

"God's  weather!  though,  but  that  chap  on  the  roan 
horse  has  got  it,  uncle,"  cried  Lansingh,  the  next  moment, 
as  he  saw  a  horseman  reel  in  the  saddle,  while  others 
spurred  to  his  side,  and  upheld  the  wounded  man.  "  My 
rifle  against  a  shot-gun  that  that  chap  does  not  cross  the 
brook!" 

"  To  the  window  in  the  gable,  then,  boys,  if  you  would 
see  the  Tory  fall,"  exclaimed  Bait,  as  the  flying  troopers 
became  lost  to  their  view  from  the  front  windows.  "  Tor 
mented  lightning!  you've  lost  your  rifle,  Kit ;  they  are  all 
over  the  brook." 

"  No,  there's  a  black  horse  still  fording  it,"  cried  Lan 
singh,  eagerly.  "  'Tis  Bradshawe's  horse  ;  I  know  it  from 
the  dangling  girths  he  drags  after  him.  He  has  gained 
the  opposite  bank ;  his  horse  flounders  in  the  slippery 
clay  ;  no,  he  turns  and  waves  his  hand  at  something.  He 
sees  us  ;  he  waves  it  in  scorn.  Oh  !  for  a  rifle  that  would 
bring  him  now." 

And,  even  as  Lansingh  spoke,  the  sharp  report  of  a  rifle, 
followed  by  a  sudden  howl  of  pain  and  defiance,  r:in^  out 
on  the  still  morning  air.  The  trooper  again  n>so  in  his 
saddle  and  shook  his  clenched  fist  at  son  sn  <»i>jf-t 

in  the  bushes.  The  next  moment  he  disappeared  in  a 


i>'32  GKEYSLAER; 


thicket  beyond  ;  and  now,  again,  the  black  horse  emerged 
once  more  into  the  open  fields  ;  but  he  scoured  along  the 
slope  beyond,  bare-backed  and  masterless  ;  the  saddle  had 
turned,  and  left  the  wounded  rider  at  the  mercy  of  that 
unseen  foe  ! 

Not  five  minutes  could  have  elapsed  before  Bait  and 
his  comrades  had  reached  the  spot  where  Bradshawe  dis 
appeared  from  their  view  ;  but  the  dying  agonies  of  the 
wounded  man  were  already  over  ;  and,  brief  as  they  were, 
yet  horrible  must  have  been  the  exit  of  his  felon  soul. 
The  ground  for  yards  around  him  was  torn  and  muddled 
with  his  gore,  as  if  the  death-struggles  of  a  bullock  had 
been  enacted  there.  His  nails  were  clutched  deep  into 
the  loamy  soil,  and  his  mouth  was  filled  with  the  dust 
which  he  had  literally  bitten  in  his  agony.  The  yeomen 
gazed  with  stupid  wonder  upon  the  distorted  frame  and 
muscular  limbs — so  hideously  convulsed  when  the  strong 
life  was  leaving  them — and  one  of  them  stooped  to  raise 
and  examine  the  head,  as  if  still  doubtful  that  it  was  the 
terrible  Bradshawe  who  now  lay  so  helpless  before  them. 
But  the  crown  of  locks  had  been  reft  from  the  gory 
skull,  and  the  face  (as  is  said  to  be  the  case  with  a  scalped 
head)  had  slipped  down,  so  that  the  features  were  no  longer 
distinguishable. 

The  next  moment  the  Oneida  emerged  from  the  bushes 
with  a  couple  of  barbarous  Indian  trophies  at  his  belt ;  and 
subsequent  examination  left  not  a  doubt  that  both  Brad 
shawe  and  the  other  wounded  trooper  had  been  dispatched 
by  the  brave  but  dean-savage  Teondetha. 

Such  were  the  essential  particulars  of  Bradshawe's  real 
fate,  as  now  made  known  by  him  who  beheld  his  fall. 

The  court  had  given  an  order  for  the  instant  release  of 


A    ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  533 

the  prisoner,  and  the  clerk  had  duly  made  it  out  long  be 
fore  the  narrative  of  the  worthy  woodsman  was  conclu 
ded  ;  but  the  relation  of  Bait  excited  a  deep  sensation 
throughout  that  crowded  chamber,  and  the  presiding  judge 
for  some  moments  found  it  impossible  to  repress  the  up 
roarious  enthusiasm  with  which  this  full  exculpation  of  the 
prisoner  at  the  bar  was  received  by  the  spectators.  Those 
who  were  nearest  to  the  prisoner — the  members  of  the 
bar  and  other  gentlemen — the  whole  jury  in  a  body,  rose 
from  their  seats  and  rushed  forward  to  clasp  his  hand  ; 
and  it  was  only  Greyslaer  himself  who  could  check  the  ex 
citement  of  the  multitude  and  prevent  them  from  bearing 
him  off  in  triumph  upon  their  shoulders.  His  voice,  how 
ever,  at  last  stilled  the  tumult,  so  that  a  few  words  from 
the  bench  could  be  heard.  They  were  addressed,  not  to 
the  prisoner,  but  to  Bait  himself. 

"  And  pray  tell  me,  my  worthy  fellow,"  said  the  judge, 
with  moistened  eyes,  "  why  you  did  not,  when  first  called 
to  the  stand,  testify  at  once  to  the  impossibility  of  this 
Bradshawe  having  fallen  by  the  hand  of  our  gallant 
friend,  for  whose  unmerited  sufferings  not  even  the  tri 
umphant  joy  of  this  moment  can  fully  compensate  ?  Why 
did  you  not  arrest  these  most  painful  proceedings  the  mo 
ment  it  was  in  your  power?" 

"  And  yere  honor  don't  see  the  caper  on't  raaly  ?  You 
think  I  might  have  got  Major  Max  out  of  this  muss  a  little 
sooner  by  speaking  up  at  onct,  eh  ?  Well,  I'll  tell  ye  the 
hull  why  and  wherefore,  yere  honor  ;"  and  the  worthy 
woodsman,  laying  one  brown  and  brawny  hand  upon  the 
rail  before  him,  looked  round  with  an  air  of  pardonable 
conceit  at  finding  such  a  multitude  of  well-dressed  people 


534  GREYSLAER; 


hanging  upon  his  words,  cleared  his  throat  once  or  twice, 
and  thus  bespoke  himself: 

"  I  owned  a  hound  onct,  gentlemen,  as  slick  a  dog  as 
ever  you  see,  any  on  ye,  for  the  like  o'  that  brute  was 
not  in  old  Tryon  ;  and  one  day,  when  hunting  among  the 
rocky  ridges  around  Konnedieyu,*  or  Canada  Creek,  as 
some  call  it,  I  missed  the  critter  for  several  hours.  I 
looked  for  him  on  the  hathes  above,  and  I  clomb  down  into 
the  black  chasm '  where  the  waters  pitch,  and  leap,  and 
fling  about  so  sarcily,  and  sprangle  into  foam  agin  the 
walls  on  airy  side.  It  was  foolish,  that's  a  fact,  to  look  for 
him  there  ;  for  the  eddies  are  all  whirlpools  ;  and  if  by 
chance,  he  had  got  into  the  stream,  why,  instead  of  being 
whirled  about  and  chucked  on  shore,  as  I  hoped  for,  the 
poor  critter  would  have  been  sucked  under,  smashed  on 
the  rocky  bottom,  and  dragged  off  like  all  natur.  And  so 
I  thought  when  I  got  near  enough 'for  my  eyes  to  look 
fairly  into  those  black  holes,  with  a  twist  of  foam  around 
them,  that  seemed  to  screw,  as  it  were,  right  down  through 
the  yaller  water  of  Konnedieyu. 

"  But  now  I  hears  a  whimper  in  the  bushes  above  me. 
I  looks  up  to  the  top  of  the  precipice  against  which  I'm 
leaning,  and  there,  on  a  ledge  of  rock  about  midway,  what 
do  I  see  but  the  head  of  the  very  hound  I  was  in  search 
of  peering  out  from  the  stunted  hemlocks  that  grew  in  the 
crevices.  To  holp  him  from  below  was  impossible;  so  I 
went  round  and  got  to  the  top  of  the  hathe.  The  dog 
was  now  far  below,  and  it  was  a  putty  risky  business  to 
let  myself  down  the  face  of  the  cliff  to  the  ledge  where  he 


*  Now  Trenton  Falls. 


A     ROMANCE     OF     THE     MOHAWK.  535 

was.  The  critter  might  get  up  to  me  full  as  easily  as  I 
could  get  down  to  him  ;  for  here  and  there  were  little 
sloping  zigzag  elects  of  rock  broad  enough  for  the  footing 
of  a  dog,  but  having  no  bushes  near  by  which  a  man  could 
steady  his  body  while  balancing  along  the  face  of  the 
cliff.  They  leaned  over  each  other,  too,  with  breadth 
enough  for  a  dog  to  pass  between,  but  not  for  a  man  to 
stand  upright, 

"  I  whistled  to  the  dog :  '  Why  in  all  thunder  does  the 
old  hound  not  come  up  when  I  call  T  says  I  to  myself, 
says  I.  '  By  the  everlasting  hokey,  if  he  hasn't  got  one 
foot  in  a  painter*  trap,'  said  I  the  next  moment,  as  I  caught 
sight  of  the  leather  thong  by  which  some  Redskin  had 
fixed  the  darned  thing  to  the  rock.  I  ups  rifle  at  onct, 
and  had  hand  on  trigger  to  cut  the  string  with  a  bullet. 
'  Stop,  old  Bait,  what  are  ye  doing  T  says  I  agin,  afore  I 
let  fly.  'The  dumb  brute,  to  be  sure,  will  be  free  if  you 
clip  that  string  at  onct,  as  you  know  you  can.  But  the 
teeth  of  the  trap  have  cut  into  his  flesh  already  ;  will  you 
run  the  chance  of  its  further  mangling  him,  and  making 
the  dog  of  no  valw  to  any  one  by  letting  him  drag  that 
cursed  thing  after  him  when  he  gets  away  ?  No  !  rayther 
let  him  hang  on  there  a  few  moments  as  he  is,  till  you  can 
go  judgmatically  to  work  to  free  him.'  With  that  I  let 
the  suffering  critter  wait  until  I  had  cut  down  a  tivf. 
slanted  it  from  the  top  of  the  cliff  to  the  ledge  where  he 
lay,  got  near  enough  to  handle  him,  uncoiled  the  leather 
thong  that  had  got  twisted  round  him,  sprung  the  trap 
from  his  bleeding  limb,  and  holped  him  to  some  purpose. 


*  PnnHtpr 


53G  GREYSLAER; 


"  Now,  yere  honor,  think  ye  that,  if  I  had  not  waited 
patiently  till  all  this  snarl  about  Miss  Alida  had  been  disen 
tangled  afore  Major  Max  got  free,  he  would  not  have  gone 
away  from  this  court  with  something  still  gripping  about 
his  heart,  as  I  may  say  ;  something  to  which  the  steel 
teeth  of  that  painter  trap,  hows'ever  closely  they  might 
set,  were  marciful,  as  I  may  say  ?  Sarting !  sarting  he 
would.  But  now  every  one  has  heard  here  all  that  man, 
woman,  and  child  can  say  agin  her.  And  here,  in  open 
court,  with  all  these  book-larnt  gentlemen,  and  yere  honor 
at  their  head,  to  sift  the  business,  we've  gone  clean  to  the 
bottom  of  it,  and  brought  out  her  good  name  without  a 
spot  upon  it." 

We  will  leave  the  reader  to  imagine  the  effect  which 
this  homely  but  not  ineloquent  speech  of  the  noble-minded 
woodsman  produced  upon  the  court,  upon  the  spectators, 
and  upon  him  who  was  most  nearly  interested  in  what  the 
speaker  said. 

The  reader  must  imagine,  too,  the  emotions  of  Alida 
when  Max  and  she  next  met,  and  Greyslaer  made  her  lis 
ten  to  the  details  of  the  trial  from  the  lips  of  his  deliverer  ; 
while  Bait,  pausing  ever  and  anon  as  he  came  to  some 
particular  which  he  scarcely  knew  how  to  put  in  proper 
language  for  her  ears,  would  at  last  get  over  the  difficulty 
by  flatly  asserting  that  he  "  disremembered  exactly  what  the 
bloody  lawyer  said  jist  at  this  part,  but  the  major  could 
tell  her  that  in  by-times." 

Those  by-times,  as  Bait  so  quaintly  called  them,  those 
sweet  and  secret  interchanges  of  heart  with  heart,  and 
that  full  and  blessed  communion  of  prosperous  and  happy 
love,  came  at  last  for  Max  and  Alida. 

Thev  were  wedded  in  the  autumn,  at  that  delicious  sea- 


A     ROMANCE     OF     THE     MOHAWK.  537 

son  of  our  American  climate  when  a  second  spring,  less 
fresh,  less  joyous  than  that  of  the  opening  year,  but  gen 
tler,  softer,  and — though  the  herald  of  bleak  winter — less 
changeable  and  more  lasting,  smiles  over  the  land ;  when 
the  bluebird  comes  back  again  to  carol  from  the  cedar 
top,  and  the  rabbit  from  the  furze,  the  squirrel  upon  the 
chestnut  bough,  prank  it  away  as  merrily  as  when  the 
year  was  new  ;  when  the  doe  loiters  in  the  forest  walk  as 
the  warm  haze  hides  her  from  the  hunter's  view,  and  the 
buck  admires  his  antlers  in  the  glassy  lake  which  the 
breeze  so  seldom  ripples  ;  when  Nature,  like  her  own  wild 
creatures,  who  conceal  themselves  in  dying,  covers  her 
face  with  a  mantle  so  glorious  that  we  heed  not  the  parting 
life  beneath  it.  They  were  wedded,  then,  among  those 
sober  but  balmy  hours,  when  love  like  theirs  might  best 
receive  its  full  reward. 

Thenceforward  the  current  of  their  days  was  as  calm 
as  it  had  hitherto  been  clouded,  and  both  Max  and  Alida, 
in  realizing  the  bounteous  mercies  which  brightened  their 
afterlives,  as  well  as  in  remembering  the  dark  trials  they 
had  passed  through ;  the  fearful  discipline  of  the  charac 
ter  of  the  one,  the  brief  but  bitter  punishment  of  a  single 
lapse  from  virtue  in  the  other — that  Heaven-sent  punish 
rnent,  which  but  heralded  a  crowning  mercy — both  re 
mained  henceforth  among  those  who  acknowledge 

"  THERE  is  A  DIVINITY  THAT  SHAPES  OUR  ENDS. 

ROUGH  HEW  THEM  HOW  WE  WILL." 


Our  story  ends  here.     The  fate  of  the  oth«-r  chnracters 
who   have  been  principally  associated  in  its   progress  is 
24 


538  GREYSLAER; 


soon  told.  Isaac  Brant,  as  is  related  in  the  biograpy  of 
his  father,  perished  ultimately  by  the  hand  of  that  only 
parent,  whose  life  he  had  several  times  attempted,  and 
who  thus  most  singularly  wrought  out  the  curse  which 
the  elder  De  Roos  had  pronounced  against  him  in  dying. 
Of  Thayendanagea,  or  Brant  himself,  we  need  say  nothing 
further  here,  as  the  full  career  of  that  remarkable  person 
is  sufficiently  commemorated  elsewhere.  The  two  John 
sons  must  likewise  at  this  point  be  yielded  up  to  the  chari 
ties  of  the  historians  who  have  recorded  their  ruthless 
deeds  throughout  the  Valley  of  the  Mohawk  in  the  subse 
quent  years  of  the  war.  The  redoubtable  Joe  Bettys  did 
not  close  his  career  quite  so  soon  as  might  have  been  ex 
pected  from  the  disastrous  condition  in  which  we  last  left 
him ;  but,  recovering  from  his  wound  under  the  care  of 
the  presumed  teamster  to*  whom  Bait  had  intrusted  him, 
and  who  turned  out  to  be  a  secret  partisan  of  the  faction  to 
which  Bettys  belonged,  the  worthy  Joe  made  his  escape 
across  the  frontier.  He  lived  for  some  years  afterward, 
and,  after  committing  manifold  murders  and  atrocities,  he 
finally  finished  his  career  upon  the  scaffold  at  the  close  of 
the  war.  The  striking  incidents  of  his  capture  are  told 
elsewhere  with  sufficient  minuteness.*  Old  Wingear  was 
attainted  as  a  traitor,  and  died  of  mortification  from  the 
loss  of  his  property.  Syl  Stickney,  the  only  Tory,  we  be 
lieve,  yet  to  be  disposed  of,  attempted  once  or  twice  to 
desert  to  his  old  friends,  considering  himself  bound  for  the 
time  for  which  he  had  enlisted,  though  both  Bradshawe,  his 
leader,  and  Valtmeyer,  who  had  enlisted  him,  were  dead. 


*  See  Stone's  Life  of  Brant,  vol.  ii.,  p.  212. 


A     ROMANCE    OF    THE    MOHAWK.  539 

When  the  term  expired,  however,  he  did  not  hesitate  to 
join  the  Whigs,  with  whom  he  fought  gallantly  till  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  received  a  grant  of  land  in  the  west 
ern  part  of  the  State  for  the  active  services  he  rendered 
in  Sullivan's  famous  campaign  against  the  Indian  towns. 
It  was  doubtless  this  Sylla  and  his  brother  Marius,  who, 
calling  each  a  settlement  after  themselves,  set  the  exam 
ple  of  giving  those  pedagogue  classic  names  to  our  western 
villages,  which  have  cast  such  an  air  of  ridicule  over  that 
flourishing  region  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

It  remains  only  to  speak  of  the  affectionate-hearted 
Bait,  whose  only  foible,  if  so  it  may  be  called,  was,  that 
he  never  could  abide  a  Redskin.  His  nephew,  Christian 
Lansingh,  marrying  the  gentle  Tavy  Wingear,  succeeded 
to  the  public-house  of  her  father  after  the  attainder  of  the 
hypocritical  deacon  had  been  reversed  in  his  favor.  And 
there,  by  the  inn  fire-side,  long  after  the  war  was  over, 
old  Bait,  with  his  pipe  in  his  mouth,  used  to  delight  to 
tight  his  battles  over  for  the  benefit  of  the  listening  travel 
ler.  The  evening  of  his  days,  however,  was  spent  chiefly 
at  the  Hawksnest.  Greyslaer,  soon  after  his  marriage, 
had  embraced  the  tender  of  a  mission  to  one  of  the  south 
ern  courts  of  Europe,  with  which  government  honored 
him.  The  health  of  Alida  had  been  seriously  impaired 
by  her  mental  sufferings ;  and  though  loth  to  relinquish 
the  active  part  he  had  hitherto  taken  in  the  great  struggle 
of  his  country,  Max  was  glad  to  be  able  to  devote  himself 
in  a  different  way  to  her  interests,  where  Alida  would  have 
the  benefit  of  a  more  genial  clime.  But  in  the  peaceful 
years  that  followed  his  return,  many  was  the  pleasant 
hunt,  many  the  loitering  tour  that  he  and  old  Bait  had  to 
gether  among  the  romantic  hills  and  bright  trout-streum> 


5 10  GREYSLAER; 


to  the  north  of  his  demesnes ;  and  many  the  token  of 
kindness  from  Alida  to  the  Spreading  Dew,  which  Max 
carried  with  him  on  these  excursions,  when  the  rapid  dis 
appearance  of  game  in  his  own  level  country  induced 
Teondetha  to  shift  his  wigwam  to  these  mountain  soli 
tudes. 


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PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS,  1  "L 

HELEN   FLEETWOOD, 

JUDAH*S  LION, 

Jt'D/CA  CAP' 

THE  SIEGE   OF    DERRY, 

LETTERS   FROM   IRELAND, 

THE  ROCK 

FLORAL  BIOGRAPHY. 

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THE  CONVENT  BELL.»Tik.J 

39 

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38 

FEMALE  MARTYRS,  38 

AND  ILLUSTRATIONS, 
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THE  LACE  RUNNERS, 
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THE  PEEP  OF  DAY. 

Or  a  Series  of  tke  earliest  Rriiffioas  iustrorJno.  tbe 
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- 


LIME  UPON  LINE, 

.  secoci  series,  SO  :& 


BT  ± 


Br  dhe 


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Tie  poWisfaers  refer  with  the 
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derable  portion  of  the  Russian  empire,  including  Moscow  and 
I'etersburgh  ;  and  the  results  of  his  observations  are  given  with  re 
markable  ease  and  naturalness.  His  account  of  the  Scandinavian 
countries  is  a  delightful  picture  of  an  orderly,  moral  people,  enjoy 
ing  the  blessings  of  good  government  and  regulated  liberty."  -  • 
Newark  Daily  .Advertiser. 

"  The  description  of  the  present  state  of  Norway  is  a  delightful 
and  graphic  picture  of  the  habits  and  manners' of  the  people  of  this 
primitive  country.  Nor  are  the  details  of  Russian  Society  and  psr- 
lonal  recollections  of  Nicholas  and  his  court,  less  worthy  of  com 
mendation.  The  style  is  remarkably  free  from  exaggeration  and 
iickly  sentiment — qualifications  we  consider  to  bo  invaluable  in  a 
modern  tourist." — The  Albion. 

"  The  sterling  bullion  of  the  book,  which  we  heartily  commend 
to  our  readers,  is  very  much  enhanced  by  the  elegant  strip  in  which 
it  is  detailed  ;  and  its  merits,  in  every  respect,  ought  to  secure  to 
this  volume  a  place  in  every  library.  Thp  whole  is  exceedingly 
well-written,  and  contains  a  ma*s  of  valuable  infm  malion  uilh'oult  to 
be  found  in  any  other  publication." — Home  Jnurnnl. 

"The  writer  of  this  book  seems  to  us  to  have  shown  himself  intel 
ligent,  observing,  judicious,  and  impartial;  and  t  1 1-  the 
volt  important  requisites  for  an  au'.i.o;  oi  a  i;o  >L  «i  i  ,n<-N.  He 


has  had  many  predecessors  in  the  same  route,  who  have  chronicled 
their  observations  and  adventures  as  he  has  done  ;  hut  there  is  a 
freshness  and  good  temper  and  point  in  what  he  has  written  that  will, 
notwithstanding,  deservedly  secure  to  his  work,  a  more  than  com 
mon  share  of  public  favor." — American  Literary  Magazine. 

'•  It  is  so  condensed  as  not  to  be  tedious,  but  sufficiently  detailed  to 
give  a  fair  view  of  men.  manners,  and  things  in  those  parts  of  F.urope 
which  have  not  been  written  to  utter  sterility  by  the  travelling 
book-makers.  He  has  done  well ;  and  we  believe  that  a  discerning 
public  will  seek  his  book,  and  be  pleased  with  it." — The  Observer 

'•It  is  a  clever  book  by  an  intelligent  American  tourist,  a  New 
Jforker,  who  visited  Russia  with  every  advantage  for  seeing  ths 
country  and  its  people,  and  "seeing  it  well."  to  use  a  phrase  ol 
Madame  de  Sevigny.  His  sketches  of  the  social  life  of  the  Russians, 
of  the  habits  of  the  nobility  and  their  serfs,  are  well  drawn,  and  his 
notes  of  the  political  and  moral  condition  of  Russia  are  instructive." 
—  The  Evening  Post. 


THE  ORATORS  OF  FRANCE, 

By  Cormenin.  Illustrated  with  portraits.    1  vol.,  12mo 
Third  edition. 

"Every  one,  at  the  present  time,  is  anxious  to  become  acquainted 

'  With  the  men  who  are  figuring  in  the  transactions  of  the  Revolution 

cow  in  progress  in  France    We  commend  this  book  to  our  readers, 

as  the  best  clue  which  they  can  possibly  take   up  for  the  acquire 

ment  of  the  knowledge  they  are  desirous  to  obtain. 

"This  book  was  written  by  Cormenin,  two  years  ago  ;  and  the 
truthfulness  of  his  estimates  may  be  seen  in  the  parts  which  have 
since  been  played  by  the  great  men  whom  he  then  portrayed.  We 
regard  this  as  a  very  superior  production,  and  have  read  it  with 
deep  interest." — Alliance  and  Visittr. 

"  This  work  is  a  translation  of  the  famous  '  Oratorical  Portraits'  of 
Timon.  the  publication  of  which  created  an  enthusiasm  in  the  poli 
tical  world  quite  equal  to  that  caused  by  the  famous  '  Junius.' — Eve 
ning  Herald. 

"  For  discriminating  views  of  the  characters  of  the  times  and  the 
men  of  which  it  treats,  and  for  vigor  and  elegance  of  style,  this  work 
is  not  surpassed  by  anything  that  has  yet  appeared." — Daily  Af- 
vcrtiser. 

"  Timon  wields  a  masterly  pen  :  terse,  graphic,  and  spirited,  he 
never  for  a  moment  suffers  our  interest  to  flag  ,  and  we  close  the 
book  with  as  keen  a  relish  as  when  we  commenced.  Though  he  has 
devoted  but  a  brief  space  to  each  orator,  so  condensed  are  his 
thoughts,  so  nervous  his  language,  and  so  clear  and  distinct  his  iimn- 
ings,  that  we  obtain  a  vivid  idea  of  their  most  striking  characteris 
tics." — New  Yorfc  Evening  Post. 

"  Remarkable  for  rapidity  of  transition,  sudden  flashes  of  brilliant 
fmagery,  bold  and  direct  perception  of  motives  and  actions,  profound 
observation,  sententious,  picturesque  and  eloquent,  the  book  is  all 
that  is  requisite  for  great  and  deserved  popularity." — Evening  Tran- 
\eript. 


HOME  STORIES, 

BY  CHARLES  BITRDETT. 

THE    ADOPTED  CHILD, 

5>r  the-  necessity  of  Early  Piety,  by  Charles  Burdett,  the 
author  of  "Emma,  or  the  Lost  Found."  1  voL  8m 
31  cents. 

LILLA    HART, 

A  Talo  of  New  York,  by  diaries  Burdett,  author  of  the 
"Adopted  Child,"  "Chances  and  Changes,"  &c.,  &c. 
1  vol.  18rno.  50  cents. 

THE  CONVICT'S  CHILD, 

By  Charles  Burdutt,  author  of  "  Lilla  Hart,"  "Adopted 
Child,"  fee.,  &c.  1  vol.  I8mo.  50  cents. 


"  It  is  c!ear  that  "ilr.  Hurflett  baa  told  many  a  tale—  were  it  other^iis* 
he  could  not  have.  t"M  tin-  tale  of  the  Cunvict's  Cliilil  in  trie  way  thai  he 
lias  (lon«  it.  We  w.niltl  not  lelieve  that  this  book  is  a  narrative-  of  Uctg 
if  .-so  credible  a  man  as  the  author  had  not  assured  HR  it  is  even  s.>,  and 
were  we  not  ronvincc'l  that  '  truth  is  st'iinjrcr  tlian  fi'.'ti  >n.'  Those  who 
want  to  enjoy  a  luxury  of  tearc  may  realize  their  wi.-hes  liv  following 
the  f  irtune.1  of  Ali<la.  tlie  Convict's  Child.  The  strry  makes  an  unj  re- 
teuJing  little  volume  "  —  Southern  Cl.i  <-tc. 

"  The  moral  of  this  little  story  is  highly  <viiniiipmlab>,  and  its  style  ifl 
cJiaracterizod  by  sini|'licity  and  absence  of  pretension,  lllnstr  live  of 
some  of  the  crying  evils  of  Ki>cial  life  tfrowinj?  out  of  ili-f  iiimli'd  pre 
judices  •galnittta  otTsjiriiiK  of  wir::,cd  parents,  its  plain  but  touching 
exposition  of  the  snbjtct  must  tend  to  correct  so  .u-n-at  a  wn>n;r.  Such 
\\orks  induce  a  In-tte"  sjiirit  in  society  for  those  unfortunates  who  are 
either  eiidanir^red  in  their  tender  jc.irs  by  th.  '  ;1  care  which 

Providence  derfffMd  for  n  -i-e  left  without  any  watchful  eye 

to  discover,  and  carcfi'l  hand   to  £tiard  them  against  the  threatening 
Inroad*  of  T;C6  "—  Protestant  Churchman 


THE  CONVICT'S  CHILD.— BY  CHARLES  BURDETT. 

':  This  little  volume  partakes  of  the  general  character  of  the  series 
It*  special  aim  is  to  show  the  consequences  of  the  general  tendency  o» 
the  part  of  the  public  to  '  visit  the  sins  and  crimes  ot  parents  upon  chil 
dren,  no  matter  how  innocent,  DO  matter  how  pure  or  virtuous.'  Tha' 
this  tendency  is  general, — that  it  causes  an  immense  amount  of  suffer 
ing,— entirely  unmerited, — and  that  it  should  be  remedied,  all  readily 
admit; — and  we  certainly  know  no  way  in  which  a  better  state  of  public 
feeling  upon  the  subject  can  be  more  effectually  produced,  than  by  the 
circulation  and  perusal  of  such  volumes  as  this.  It  is  exceedingly  in 
teresting. — well  written,  and  will  certainly  be  widely  read.  We  cordially 
commend  it  to  the  attention  of  all  our  readers.  It  will  well  repay  the 
attention  which  it  so  strongly  attracts.  It  is  very  neatly  published  by 
Messrs.  Baker  &  Scribner,  at  145  Nassau  street." — N.  S.  Courier  and 
Enquirer. 

"  Messrs.  Baker  &  Scribner,  New  York,  have  published  a  smalj 
volume,  neatly  bound  in  embossed  muslin,  entitled  The  Convict's 
Child.  The  author  is  Charles  Burdett,  Esq.,  who  has  for  sometime  past 
devoted  his  attention  to  the  production  of  a  very  excellent  series  of  little 
works,  the  object  of  which  is  mainly  to  inspire  a  better  feeling  in  the 
community  towards  those  whose  poverty  or  want  of  proper  instruction 
leads  them  to  the  commission  of  errors,  of  which  they  would  undoubt 
edly  be  guiltless  if  the  smallest  helping  hand  were  extended  towards 
them  by  those  whose  condition  of  life  is  more  elevated.  The  stories  ot 
'  Lilla  Hart,'  '  The  Adopted  Child,'  &c.,  by  this  benevolent  writer,  were 
well  received  by  the  public ;  and  it  is  hoped  the  present  volume  will 
meet  with  similar  favor.  The  occupation  of  the  author — that  of  Re 
porter  to  one  of  the  best  newspapers  in  the  country-- has  brought  him 
oftentimes  to  witness  occurrences  to  which  others  wre  strangers.  The 
scenes  which  he  describes  are  drawn  from  life,  and  the  incidents  true, 
although  they  may  seem  strange." — Baltimore  American. 

CLEMENT  OF   ROME, 

A  Legend  of  the  Sixteenth  Century,  with  an  introduction  by 
Prof.  Taylor  Lewis.     1  vol.  18mo.     63  cents. 

"  This  is  a  story  of  marked  and  continued  interest,  and  presents  some 
fine  traits  of  early  Christian  character,  rendered  more  brilliant  by  being 
associated  with  contemporary  Grecian  and  Roman  life.  It  is  introduced 
to  public  notice  by  Taylor  Lewis.  He  regards  it  as  a  correct  and  beau 
tiful  delineation  of  the  Christianity  of  the  first  century,  and  besides  ag 
valuable,  for  the  faithful  representation  it  gives  of  Roman  manners." — 
Albany  Spectator. 

"  In  saying  that  this  is  a  work  of  fiction  we  must  explain  ourselves. 
In  order  to  realize  to  the  mind  the  interestins  occurrences  of  the  first 
century,  Mrs.  J.  has  attempted  to  eke  out,  by  a  fruitful  imagination,  the 
facts  which  are  barely  glanced  at  in  the  New  Testament  and  other  early 
writing*;  and  has  accomplished  her  daring  task  with  such  .an  air  of 
probability — and  such  a  dramatic  effect,  as  cannot  fail  to  involve  the 
reader  in  the  utmost  interest.  The  author  had  doubtless  read  cer'ain  of 
Bulwers  novels  and  Shakspeare's  Historical  Tragedies—  she  is  certainly 
familiar  with  Tacitus  and  Suetonius,  and  also  with  Eusebius,  Socrates, 
and  other  early  Christian  writers.  From  these  authors  she  derives 
the  historical  facts  that  constitute  the  main  building,  which  she  adorns 
«o  tastefully  with  th3  beautiful  festoonery  of  her  inventive  genius," — 
6>Cvthern  Christian  Altocatc. 


THE  ANTIQUITIES  OF  THE   CHRISTIAN  CHURCH, 

Translated  and  compiled  from  the  works  of  Augu&ti,  with 
numerous  additions  from  Rheinwald,  Siegel,  and  others; 
By  the  Rev.  Lyman  Coleman,  1vol.  8vo.  $2  50. 

COMPLETE  WORKS  OF  REV.  DANIEL  A.  CLARK. 
idited  by  his  son  James  Henry  Clark,  M.D.,  with  a  bio 
graphical  sketch,  and  an  estimate  of  his  powers  as  a 
preacher,  by  Rev.  George  Shepard,  A.M.,  Professor  of 
Sacred  Rhetoric,  Bangor  Theological  Seminary,  2  vols. 
8vo.  $4  00. 

D'AUBIGNE   AND   HIS  WRITINGS, 

With  a  Sketch  of  the  Life  of  the  Author,  by  Rev.  Robert 
Baird,  D.D.,  1  vol.     I2mo.     half  bound.    SO  50. 
Do.  do.        do.  cloth.       $0  63. 

"  The  widespread  and  deserved  popularity  of  the  great  work  of  D'Au- 
bigne,  on  the  Reformation,  has  very  naturally  created  an  Interest  in 
everything  which  has  proceeded  from  his  pen,  or  relates  to  him  person 
ally.  His  discourses  and  smaller  works,  which  have  been  translated  and 
republished  in  this  country,  bear  evident  marks  of  a  common  paternity 
with  the  Great  Reformation;  and  that  is  praise  enough.  There  is  the 
same  purity  and  high  order  of  thought — the  same  engrossing  interest — 
and  the  same  directness  and  vigor  of  expression." — Ithaca  Chronicle, 

THE  LIVES  OF  THE  APOSTLES  OF   JESUS  CHRIST. 
By  D.  Francis  Bacon,  1  vol.    8vo.    S3  00. 

"  This  work  has  now  been  for  more  than  ten  years  before  the  public ; 
and,  although  many  thousand  copies  have  been  scattered  abroad,  yet 
thousands  have  never  seen  it,  to  whom,  if  possessed  by  them,  it  could 
not  but  prove  of  inestimable  value.  It  is  the  result  of  many  year*  of 
deep  research,  and  patient  investigation  of  works  of  various  kinds,  in 
different  languages,  which  bear  upon  the  liveg  of  the  Apostles.  Inde 
pendent  of  containing  a  clear  and  vivid  delineation  of  the  lives  of  mem 
bers  of  the  Apostolic  college,  this  volume  has  other  claims  upon  us.  It 
presents  not  only  a  complete  history  of  the  early  Church,  but  throw* 
much  light  on  the  meaning  of  the  sacred  text;  the  whole  written  with 
out  »mbiguitv.  and  in  so  simple  a  style,  as  to  adapt  itxelf  to  every  class 
of  readers.  The  edition  before  us.  by  Baker  and  Scribner,  is  a  beautiful 
one,  and  must  command  an  extensive  sale.  It  can  be  obtained  at  any  of 
»ur  bookstores." — Albany  Spectator. 


OBLIGATIONS  OF  THE  WORLD  TO  THE  BIBLE. 

By  Gardiner  Spring,  D.  D.    1  vol.  12  mo.    $1. 


ESSAYS   ON  THE   PROGRESS   OF  NATIONS, 

In  productive  Industry,  Civilization,  Population,  and 
Wealth;  illustrated  by  Statistics  of  Mining,  Agriculture, 
Manufactures,  Commerce,  Banking,  Revenues,  Internal 
Improvements,  Emigration,  Mortality  and  Population,  by 
Ezra  C.  Seaman. 

"  We  have  already  spoken  quite  fully  in  commendation  of  thia  work, 
yet  havs.  said  less  than  its  merits  deserve.  It  is  a  most  truthful  and  in 
structive  work,  which  should  lind  a  place  in  our  Village  and  Schoel 
Libraries,  and  be  studied  l>v every  lireside.  Ail  men  in  a  republic  shoulj 
possess  some  knowledge  of  at  least,  the  elements  of  Political  Economy, 
ami  yet  how  few  really  do  possess  it!  A  vagiin  instinct  of  self-interest, 
a  few  cherished  viewsaud  some  rude  notion  ot  what  experience  has  taught 
—  these  compose  the  sum  of  what  is  known  of  I'oliiieal  Kr'.iininy  by  the 
vast  majority.  The  ponderous  volume  h.  which  the  science  (.')  is  taught 
are  usually  iuac-essible  to  the  mass  of  readers,  and  scarcely  intelligible, 
if  at  hand  :  to  say  nothing  of  the  radical  e'T>is  which  run  through  most 
Oi  them.  Mr.  teamen's  work  wiil  be  readily  understood  by  any  one, and 
nove  can  read  it  without  acquiring  broader  and  juster  views  of  national 
policy  ar.d  a  wise  public  economy." — N.  Y.  \'i  ibunc. 

'•  Ihe  work  so  justly  characterized  in  the  r\bove,  copied  from  the  Tri 
bune,  i.i  i'jr  sale  by  [.Messrs.  Baker  £.  Scribner.j  'it  is  in  truth  a  work 
of  great  research,  honest  and  convincing  in  its  expressions  of  opinion. 
and  admirably  calculated  by  its  array  of  incontrovertible  facts,  to  dis 
pel  tne  nnr.y  e.Tineous  and  mischievous  n»ti  >.is  of  mere  theorizing 
political  eco.'ic mists.  We  warmly  commend  it  to  public  favor,  as  a  buok 
of  great  intere.-:t  a.Mj  utility." — Cummcrcial  Advertiser,  Buffalo. 

A  Letter  t '  'he  Author  from  Hon.  Millard  Fitimorc. 

BUFFALO,  SEPTEMBER  23,  1816. 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  hart  only  found  time,  amidst  tht  pressure  of  profes 
gional  engagements,  to  rwd  a  few  chapters  of  your  "  tl.tsai/s  on  the  Pro 
grets  of  Nations,"  but  I  have  read  enough  to  satisfy  me  that  it  is  a 
very  valuable  publication  and  that  it  bring.?  within  tLe  roach  of  every 
man  a  vast  store  of  useful  information,  as  to  the  progros^  if  agriculture 
and  the  arts  among  mankind,  which  can  be  found  nowhen.  tlse  in  so  con 
densed  and  cheap  a  form.  Your  sound  views  of  politico;  »-«nioiny  are 
sustained  by  statistical  details  which  serve  at  once  to  illustrate  the  sub 
ject  and  carry  conviction  to  the  mind. 

I  am  also  gratified  to  perceive  that  the  book  is  free  from  pol't'ial  cant 
and  partizan  bias,  and  wish  a  cony  i.i£ht  be  placed  in  the  hands  Oi'  every 
enligi-tened  citizen.  l(e»pectully  yours, 

E.  C.  SEAMAN,  Esa.  JMILLAUD  FILLMOKK. 

THE  ELEMENTS  OF  ASTRONOMY, 
Designed  as  an  Introduction  tc  the  Study.     1  vol    IPrco. 
25  cents. 

REFLECTIONS   ON   Fl  OWF.RS, 

By  James  Hervey,  author  of  "  M^Jita/.ions  among  thf 
Tombs."  1  vol.  I8mo.  31  cts. 

EMANUEL  ON  THE  CROSS  AND  <>'  THE  GARDEN, 

By  R.  P.  Buddicom.    1  vol.  ICmo.    63  cts. 


SLAVERY  DISCUSSED  IN  OCCASIONAL  ESSSAYS, 
From  1833  to   181G,  by  the  Rev.  Leonard  Bacon,  D.  D., 
Pastor  of  the  first  Congregational  church,  New  Haven, 
Conn.    1  vol   I2tno,     75  cents. 

"  This  volume  contains  some  of  the  calmest  and  ablest  essays  on  the 
vexed  question  of  Slavery  we  have  ever  met  with.  The  writer  is  one 
of  the  happy  few  who  have  been  able  to  examine  it  dispassionately,  and 
the  general  circulation  of  his  views  cannot  fail  to  d .>  much  good  among 
all  cla-ses  of  readers.  As  Will  be  seen  from  the  title,  the  essays  lover  a 
sufficient  spac<>  to  embrace  nearly  all  the  phases  the  question  has  un 
dergone,  and  of  course,  being  written  honestly,  display  some  diversity 
of  opinion,  but  as  a  whole  they  are  remarkably  congruous." — Buffalo 
Commercial  Advertiser. 

THE  LIFE  AND  VOYAGES  OF  AMERICUS  VESPUCIUS, 

With  illustrations  concerning  the  Navigator  and  Discovery 
of  the  New  World,  by  C.  E.  Lester  and  Andrew  Foster. 
1  vol.  8vo.  $2  50. 

'•  The  subject  of  this  work  is  sufficient  of  itself  to  attract  and  interest 
every  American.  The  man  who  gave  name  to  this  great  western  con 
tinent  can  never  be  forgotten.  The  volume  before  us  is  not  the  produc 
tion  of  a  few  short  days  ;  it  has  occupied  months  of  labor  and  research. 
Many  old  manuscripts  in  Italian,  Spanish  and  German  bearing  on  his 
life  and  voyages,  have  been  carefully  examined  ;  and  all  the  large  libra 
ries  in  thia  country  have  been  searched  fur  collections  relative  to 
the  great  discoverer — a  title  which  many  will  not  award  to  him.  For 
much  of  the  value  of  the  work,  and  lor  the  translations  of  interesting 
letters,  the  public  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Foster,  of  Boston,  to  whom  the 
original  foreign  M.~S.  and  letters  were  committed  lor  translation.  It  ii 
written  in  that  flowing  and  attractive  style  which  characterizes  all  Mr. 
Lester's  productions,  and  cannot  fail  to  have  an  extensive  circulation."— 
Albany  Spectator. 

THE  ARTISTS  OF  AMERICA, 

Illustrated  with  nine  engravings  on  steel,  and  containing 
sketches  of  the  lives  of  Washington  Alston,  Henry 
Inman,  Benjamin  West,  Gilbert  Charles  Stuart,  John 
Trumbull,  James  DeVeaux,  Rembrandt  Peale  and 
Thomas  Crawford.  1  vol.  8vo.  $2. 

u  Its  object  is  to  give  us  sketches  of  the  eminent  Artists  of  America 
in  successive  numbers,  beautifully  printed,  and  accornpMiiied  with  an 
engraved  likeness  of  each.  This  is  u  worthy  project,  and  should  b« 
largely  patronized  by  all  our  citizens.  We  i-re  flooded  \vith  light, 
flimsy,  sentimental  periodicals — this  is  something  different,  and  will  add 
to  our  knowledge  of  our  own  land." — A''.  II.  Herald. 

"  A  b<x>k  which  will  fill  a  long-felt-vacancy  on  the  shelves  of  our 
librarians,  and  one  that  if  deserving  to  receive  the  encouragement  of 
•very  l:T*r  of  fin«  art*  in  our  country." — Brooklyn  Daily  Mvtrtiter 


THE  PURITANS  AND  THEIR  PRINCIPLES, 

By  the  Rev.  EDWIN  HALL,  Pastor  of  the  First  Congrega 

tional  Church,  Norwalk,  Conn.,  1  vol.    8ro.    $2  50.  „ 

"  The  appearance  of  an  able  and  standard  work  on  an  important  sub 
jeet  is  an  event  to  be  hailed  with  pleasure.  Such  a  work  hag  lately  ap 
peared  under  the  title, '  The  Puritans  and  their  Principles '  It  is  from 
the  pen  of  Rev.  Edwin  Hall,  of  Norwalk,  Conn.  The  author  handles  hi» 
great  subject  with  all  the  ease  of  conscious  strength  and  skill.  H« 
wields  his  ponderous  sledge  so  lightly,  that  we  are  deceived  as  to  it* 
•weight,  till  we  hear  the  crushing  blow,  and  see  the  sparkling  shower,  a» 
the  instrument  rings  on  the  sounding  anvil.  It  is  then  that  we  admire 
the  vigor  of  the  stalwart  arm. 

"  Rather  more  than  half  of  his  well  printed  octavo  iu  historical,  and 
gives  a  condensed,  but  thorough  account  of  the  origin,  history,  opinions, 
sufferings,  enterprises,  reverses  and  successes  of  the  admirable  class  of 
men,  of  whom  David  Hume  has  testified  that '  the  precious  spark  of  liberty 
had  been  kindled  by  the  Puritans  alone,'  and  that  it  is  to  them  that 
'  the  English  owe  the  whole  freedom  of  their  constitution.'  •  To  them 
the  people  of  America  are,  even  more  than  the  English,  indebted  for  their 
best  social  institutions  and  their  noblest  traits  of  national  character. 
To  them  the  Christian  world  is  destined  toeoniract  a  growing  debt  of  ob 
ligation  and  gratitude.' 

"  Having  given  a  masterly  sketch  of  the  character  and  '  mighty 
deeds'  of  the  men,  Mr.  Hall  proceeds  to  state  and  to  vindicate  their 
their  principles.  Himself  a  Puritan  in  spirit  aud  sentiment,  he  is  'at 
home,'  in  this  discussion.  He  clearly  exhibits  the  church-polity  of  our 
fathers  from  foundation  to  pinnacle,  and  proves  that  it  is  fashioned  faith 
fully  'according  to  the  pattern  in  the  Mount.'  Here  he  comes  into  col 
lision  with  the  prelatical  faction  whose  hierarchal  zeal  has  ever  hotly 
persecuted  the  Puritans,  either  in  their  persons  or  their  memory.  The 
Episcopal  divines  of  our  day,  dissatisfied  with  the  arguments  relied  upon 
in  olden  times,  have  sought  to  rest  their  claims  on  new  foundations. 
But  Mr.  Hall  has  demolished  the  new  masonry,  as  well  as  the  old,  and 
his  work  is  especially  valuable,  as  a  triumphant  confutation  of  the  most 
recent  methods  of  defending  the  assumptions  of  prelacy  Without 
pomp  and  without  ornament,  he  marches  through  the  field  of  debate,  like 
a  champion  who  cannot  be  stopped,  and  will  not  be  drawn  aside.  He  fol 
lows  close  upon  the  retreating  foe,  till  the  adverary,  able  to  recede  no 
further, '  dies  in  the  last  ditch.' 

••  This  book  ought  to  be  in  the  hands  of  all  who  wish  to  learn,  easily 
f.iid  accurately,  what  the  Puritans  thought  and  did.  It  ought  to  have  a 
place  on  the  shelves  of  every  minister,  who  desires  to  be  furnished  with 
fitting  materials  for  his  'Thanksgiving  Sermons.'  It  would  make  an 
appropriate  text-book  for  any  who  love  to  stndy  those  times  whereof 
Hugh  Peters  said,  '  This  is  an  age  to  make  examples  and  precedent? 
in"  It  should  be  perused  by  any  degenerate  son  of  the  Pilgrims,  wno 
may  be  meditating  filial  treason  and  impiety,  and  who  may  be  parleying 
with  the  Philistines  about  deserting  to  their  camp,  where  he  will  be 
forced  to  prove  the  sincerity  of  his  conversion  by  being  foremost  to 
delile  the  sepulchres  of  his  sires.  This  book  might  be  given  with  good 
effect,  to  the '  born  and  bred'  prelatist,  were  it  not  the  common  tendency 
of  such  an  one,  in  these  unheroic  times,  to  slide  still  further  dfiwn  the 
hill  by  the  power  of  moral  gravitation,  rather  than  climb  the  elevated 
summit  of  truth,  where  the  air  is  freest,  the  prospect  widest  and  the 
heavens  brightest. 
"  These  lines  are  from  one  who  has  no  acquaintance  with  the  author, 


except  through  his  book  ;  and  who  has  no  interest  in  the  b.'ok,  except 
that  which  is  awakened  by  a  grateful  perusal  of '  The  Puritans  and  their 
Principles.'  This  notice  is  written  as  a  slight  tribute  to  meritorious  in 
dustry,  and  in  the  hope  of  aiding  the  circulation  of  a  truly  valuabl* 
Tolume." — New  England  Puritan. 

"  This  is  an  elaborate,  learned,  and  exceedingly  interesting  work.  Its 
Bubject  is  one  of  absorbing  Interest  to  the  statesman  and  the  Christian. 
Mr.  Hall  discusses  the  causes  which  brought  the  Pilgrims  to  then* 
shores,  and  their  principles;  and  vindicates  them  from  the  aspersion* 
which  have  been  cast  upon  them  They  were  the  most  remarkable  men 
that  ever  reached  the  continent;  and  their  monument  is  Civil  and 
Religious  Liberty  in  tlie  Earth.  This  book  should  have  its  place  in 
every  library,  and  be  in  the  bauds  of  every  descendant  of  the 
Puritans." — N.  J.  Journal. 

"  The  design  of  the  work  is  to  set  forth  the  causes  which  brought  the 
Pilgrims  to  these  shores;  to  exhibit  their  pr  nciplcs  ;  to  show  what 
these  principle*  are  wor  h.  and  what  it  costs  to  maintain  thorn  ;  to  vin 
dicate  the  character  of  the  Puritans  from  the  as]  crsions  which  have 
been  cast  UIKJII  them,  and  to  show  the  PURITANIC  SYSTEM  OF  CHURCH 
POLITY, — as  distinguished  from  the  Prelatie,— broadly  and  solidly 
ba-edon  the  Word  of  God;  inseparable  from  religious  Purity  and  Reli 
gious  Freedom  ;  and  of  immense  permanent  importance  to  the  best 
interests  of  mankind. 

"  The  publication  is  intended  to  bring  together  such  historical  informa 
tion  concerning  the  Puritans  as  is  now  HC  ,tt  red  through  many 
volumes,  and  cannot  be  obtained  bnt  with  much  labor  and  research,  and 
an  outlay  beyond.'' — A'cic  Haven  Courier. 


uacea  me  ciicuia  01  LII.IL  .iieji  uu  tue  MIX  1 1  m  ii'ii>  <uiu  religiuun  unai  auiiri 

of  the  people  of  both  continents,  and  then  enters  into  an  analysis  of  both 
prelatical  and  Puritanical  church  polity,  and  warmly  and  eloquently 
defends  the  latter.  The  style  of  ihe  work  is  vigorous  and  clothes  a 
subject  on  which  much  has  been  already  written  with  new  attractions, 
co7iibiuing  succinctness  of  historical  detail  with  elegance  of  diction."— 
N.  Y.  Commercial  Advertiser. 

"  After  an  introduction,  oontainins  a  glance  at  the  condition  of  Eng- 
land  before  the  days  of  Wickliffe,  we  are  presented  with  a  1  istory  of 
Wicldifie  and  his  times,  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  and  the  rise  of  -he 
Puritans,  from  whence  we  trace  them  in  their  conflicts,  visit  them  in 
their  prisons  follow  them  in  their  wan  erinjrs.  and  come  with  them  to 
their  first  rnde  dwellings  in  th«  American  wilderness.  We  behold  the 
foundation  here  rising  under  their  hands,  until  the  wilderness  became 
transformed  into  a  fair  and  fruitful  field.  The  principles  of  these  uohle 
men  are  exhibited  and  explained.  The  matter  of  C'hu'ch  Poli  y  is  dis 
cussed,  and  th  •  claims  of  Prelacy  are  brought  to  the  test  of  reason,  o« 
history,  and  of  the  Word  of  God." 

Hartford  Clnishan  Secretary. 

"We  cannot  forbear  to.  express  our  conviction  that  it  is  a  work  of 
(Treat  merit,  and  hag  no  common  claims,  especially  upon  the  regard  of 
those  who  have  tlie  blood  of  the  Puritans  flowing  in  their  veins.  lt« 
historical  details  evince  the  most  diligent  re-earch,  and  its  vigorous  and 
masterly  disrussion  of  important  principles,  shows  a  judicious,  discrimi 
nating,  and  thoroughly  tr.iined  mind.  As  the  subjcetn  »t  which  it 
treat-;,  have  to  a  great  extent,  a  controversial  bearing,  it  cannot  be 
txpetfed  that  all  will  judge  in  the  taut*  manner  of  the  merits  of  the 


book,  but  we  think  all  wno  possess  ordinary  cr.ndor  niust  agree  that  it 
is  written  with  no  common  ability,  and  contains  u  great  amount  of  USB 
ful  iiiformation."— Albanij  American  Citizen. 

"  This  is  a  neatly  printed  octavo,  of  l>etween  400  and  500  pages,  from 
the  pen  of  one  who  has  proved  himself  muster  of  his  subject.  It  give?  tha 
history  of  the  Puritans,  embracing  the  most  of  its  material  and  interest 
ing  facts  ;  and  also  makes  these  facts  subserve  a  defence  of  the  charac 
ter  and  principles  of  our  ancestors.  The  work  is  ably  and  thoroughly 
executed,  and  it  ought  to  furnish  a  part  of  the  library  of  every  descend 
aut  of  the  Puritans." — New  England  Puritan. 

"  The  work  before  us  is  the  fruit  of  much  research  and  thought,  and 
will  stand,  in  our  opinion,  as  a  noble  defence  of  the  character  and  prin 
ciples  of  men  whose  monument  is  civil  and  religious  liberty  in  the 
earl/i. 

This  volume  is  richly  worthy  of  a  place  in  the  library  of  every  colleie, 
ami  of  every  man  wh.j  wi-in-s  to  understand  the  true  greatness  of  the 
Puritans.  We  presume  that  it  will  be  very  generally  sought  after  and 
extensively  read. — A'.  Y.  Observer.'' 

"  After  an  Introduction,  containing  a  glance  at  the  condition  of  Eng 
land  before  the  days  of  Wickliffe,  we  are  presented  with  a  history  if 
WieUliffe  and  his  times,  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  and  the  rise  of  th<s 
Puritans,  from  whence  we  trace  them  in  their  conflicts,  visit  them  in 
their  pris  i;s.  fjllnw  them  in  their  wanderings,  and  cume  with  them  to 
their  first  rude  dwellings  in  the  American  wilderness.  We  behold  the 
foundation  here  rising  under  their  hands,  until  the  wilderness  becama 
transformed  into  a  fair  and  fruitful  field.  The  principles  c/f  these  noble 
men  are  exhibited  and  explained.  The  matter  of  Church  Polity  is  dis 
cussed,  and  the  claims  of  Prelacy  are  brought  to  the  test  of  reason,  of 
history,  and  of  the  Word  of  God." — Hartford  Christian  Secretary. 

AN  EXPOSITION   OF   THE   LAW  OF  BAPTISM, 

As  it  regards  the  mode  and  the  subject,  by  the  Rev.  EDWIN 
HALL,  Pastor  of  the  first  Congregational  Church,  Nor  walk, 
Conn.,  third  edition,  revised  and  enlarged.  £0  75. 

"  This  is  a  new  edition  of  a  work  first  published  in  1840.  It  ha?  met 
with  great  fav..  r  from  those  whose  views  on  the  subject  discussed  are 
those  of  the  Author  It  is  an  able  and  learned  treatise;  and  upon  the 
points  inairly  treated, leaves  but  little  to  be  said  either  in  the  way  of  ad 
dition  or  objection.  It  is  worthy  of  a  place  in  every  Theological  Libra 
ry. — N.  Y.  Journal. 


THEOPNEUSTY, 

Or  the  Plenary  Inspiration  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  by  S.  R. 
L.  Gaussen.  Professor  of  Theology  in  the  new  Theologi 
cal  School  of  Geneva,  Switzerland.  Third  American, 
from  the  second  French  edition,  revised  and  enlarged  by 
the  Au:hor.  Transited  by  the  Rev.  Edward  Norris  Kirk, 
1  vol.  I2mo.  $0  75. 


THE  FAMILY  OF  DETHANY, 

Ry  L.  Bonnet ,  with  an  Introductory  Essay,  by  the  Rev. 
Hugh  White.  1  vol.  I8mo.  38  cts. 

THE  CHRISTIAN  POCKET  COMPANION, 

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THE  STORY  OF  GRACE, 

The  Little  Sufferer.     1  vol.    I8mo.     31  cts. 

ADOLPHUS  AND  JAMES, 

By  the  Rev.  Napoleon  Roussel,  translated  from  the  French* 
1  vol.  I8mo.  31  cts. 

THE  LILY   OF  THE  VALLEY,  by  Mrs.  Sherwood.    Slots. 
SHANTY,  THE  BLACKSMITH,  by  Mrs.  Sherwood.    SO  eta 

THE  TRAVELLER, 
Or  the  Wonders  of  Art,    1  vol.  iSmo.    38  cts. 

FLOWER  FADED. 

By  the  Rev.  John  Angell  James,    I8mo.    38  cts. 

ROCKY   ISLAND, 

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THE   LITTLE  WANDERERS, 
By  Samuel  Wilberforce,  M.A.    1  vol.  I8mo.    25  cts 

THE   KING    AND   HIS  SERVANTS, 
By  Samuel  Wiberforce,  M.A.    1  vol.   18mo.    25  cts. 

THE   PROPHET'S  GUARD, 

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COUNSELS  TO  THE   YOUNG. 

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SELF-CULTIVATION,  by  Tryon  Edwards. 
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TRANSPLANTED  FLOWERS, 

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NAPOLEON   AND   HIS  MARSHALS, 
By  J.  T.  HEADLEY,  illustrated  with  12  engravings  on  steel, 
2  vols.  12mo.    &2  50. 

"  The  brilliant  pen  of  our  friend  and  correspondent  has  been  tasked 
for  its  highest  and  happiest  efforts  in  these  descriptions  of-men  and 
scenes  whose  names  are  illustrious  in  the  annals  of  history.  The  de 
fence  of  Napoleon  in  the  first  volume  has  not  been  successfully  im 
peached  by  the  critics,  and  we  are  pleased  with  the  evidence  that  Mr. 
Headley  observes  with  the  eye  of  a  philosopher,  while  poetry  distils  aa 
the  dew  from  his  flowing  pen." — JV.  Y.  Observer. 

"  Mr.  Headley's  peculiarities  as  an  author  are  universally  known.  He 
Is  one  of  the  most  vigorous  and  spirit-stirring  writers  of  the  day— espe 
cially  graphic  and  powerful  in  narratives  of  exciting  events.  In  battle 
scenes  he  has  succeeded  better  than  any  other  writer  of  the  day;  and  he 
has  therefore  very  wisely  given  the  most  of  his  etforts  to  this  class  of 
writings.  No  one  can  fail  to  get  from  his  descriptions,  most  graphic, 
Vivid  and  lasting  impressions  of  the  scenes  of  which  he  speaks. 

The  two  volumes  in  which  Mr.  Headley  has  sketched  the  lives,  charac 
ters,  and  leading  exploits  of  Napoleon  and  the  band  of  unrivalled  war 
riors  by  whom  he  was  surrounded,  are  among  the  most  readable  recently 
issued  from  the  press,  and  in  the  spirit  of  interest  they  arouse  in  the 
great  events  with  which  they  are  connected,  will  be  found  a  source  of 
great  profit  as  well  as  pleasure  and  interest.  They  are  very  handsomely 
printed,  and  contain  a  number  of  very  fine  outline  portraits  of  the  most 
prominent  characters.  The  work  will  form  a  valuable  accession  to  every 
public  and  private  library." — JV.  Y.  Courier  $  Enquirer. 

"  NT.  Headley  is  a  clear  and  powerful  writer,  and  seems  to  catch  more 
and  more  of  the  spirit  of  enthusiasm  as  he  advances  in  his  work.  There 
is  no  slacking  of  energy  or  abatement  of  interest  to  the  very  last;  and 
you  arise  from  the  perusal  of  the  volumes,  with  new  and  more  reasonable 
views  of  the  life  and  character  of  Napoleon,  and  with  greater  admira 
tion  of  his  brave  Marshals,  than  you  had  ever  been  able  to  gather 
from  the  one-eyed  writings  of  prejudiced  Englishmen." — Albany  Spec 
tator. 

"  With  a  subject  ever  the  same  in  its  general  features,  the  Author  has 
accomplished  the  difficult  task  of  giving  individuality  to  the  different 
battle  scenes,  and  each  Chieftain  is  marked  by  characteristics  which 
distinguish  him  from  his  fellows.  No  one  can  read  these  terrific  de 
scriptions  without  being  greatly  moved  and  feeling  more  deeply  than 
ever  the  horrors  and  misery  of  war.  Alison  has  obtained  a  great  reputa- 
tioj  as  a  painter  of  battles,  but  it  seems  to  us  that  he  is  really  surpassed 
by  Headley.  As  an  American  writer  with  an  American  heart,  we  com 
mend  him  to  the  Western  public." — Cincinnati  Paper. 

"  A  spirit  stirring,  trumpet-toned  description  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  and  scenes  of  this  interesting  portion  of  modern  history,  when 
written  by  one  of  the  most  accomplished  descriptive  writers  of  the  age, 
will  form  a  valuable  addition  to  any  library.  In  describing  battle  scenes 
and  military  exploits.  Mr.  H.  has  Rucceeded  better  than  any  writer  of 
the  day ;  and  no  one  can  read  this  work  without  carrying  away  with  him 
a  clear  and  lasting  impression — a  sort  of  Daguerreotype  of  the  brilliant 
scenes  and  passages  at  arms,  which  he  has  attempted  to  portray." — Nev> 
Haven  Herald. 

"  The  fifth  edition  of  this  work  is  before  us.  Mr.  Headley  is  a  bril 
liant  writer,  and  sustains  his  high  reputation  in  the  graphic  biographies 
of  ta«  '  Great  Captain '  and  his  illustrious  Marshals.  It  ig  almost  toj 


late  for  us  to  say  n  word  iu  commendation  of  these  volumes ;  we  only  say 
that  if  yet  unread  by  any  who  desire  a  liberal  view  of  the  character  ai.J 
course  of  Napoleon,  there  is  a  delightful  entertainment  before  them  of 
which  they  should  partake  as  s<ion  as  possible.  They  are  amongst  the 
most  interesting  volumes  we  have  ever  read.  "—A".  J.  Jourjial. 

''Tuisvrork  has  placed  Mr.  Head'ey  in  a  high  rank  as  a  strong  and 
clear  writer,  and  a  sound  thinker.  His  accounts  of  Napoleon  and  hig 
Officers -see m  to  us  to  be  the  most  faithful  ever  yet  written;  and  his 
descriptions  of  various  battles  and  exciting  events  are  remarkably 
graphic,  glowing  and  picturesque.  Mr  Headicy  is  a  talented  man;  and 
we  place  implicit  confidence  in  his  opinion,  at  the  same  time  that  w« 
admire  his  style." — Cincinnati  Chroncle. 

"  Indeed  the  work  is  one  of  remarkable  power,  and  will  add  much  to 
the  already  well  earned  reputation  of  the  author.  It  is  written  in  a 
brilliant  a'>d  animated  style;  and  the  reader  ceases  to  be  a  critic  in  ad 
miration  of  the  splendid  achievements  of  Napoleon  and  his  Marshals — 
so  graphically  and  vividly  portrayed,  that  each  sentence  seems  a  picture: 
and  the  whole  book  but  a  magnificent  panorama  of  the  battle-fields  of 
Mareiv.o,  Au.-terlitz,  Waterloo,  etc. 

"  No  author,  observes  a  contemporary,  has  a  quicker  appreciation  of 
the  prominent  points  in  the  character  he  is  describing,  nr  a  happier 
faculty  of  setting  them  before  his  readers  than  Mr.  Headley.  His 
sketch  of  Napoleon,  we  will  venture  to  say,  gives  a  bett.fr  defined  and 
truer  idea  of  '  tin-  Man  of  Destiny.'  than  any  biography  in  the  language. 
It  relieves  Napoleon  from  the  misrepresentations  of  English  writers, 
and  -hows  that  for  the  long  and  bloody  wars  in  which  he  was  engaged, 
Ejgland  was  directly  responsible." — Cincinnati  Alias. 

"  We  commend  ihis  work  to  our  readers  as  one  of  unusual  interest, 
written  with  force  rather  than  elegance— with  honest  warmth,  rather 
than  cold  discrimination.  The  pictures  which  it  contains  are  drawn 
with  masculine  and  startling  vigor,  and  although  jTetfi!d;ng  to  be  de 
scriptive  of  individuals,  are  connected  with  vivid  accounts  of  the  glorious 
campaigns  in  which  they  were  the  actors." — 1'cnniylTuniun. 

"The  abi  i;y  and  graphic  power  which  Mr.  Headley  has  evinced  in 
these  delineations,  will  not  only  not  be  questioned,  but  place  him  in  the 
first,  rank  of  descriptive  writers.  Whether  the  same  deference  will  be 
pafd  to  the  soundness  of  his  reasoning,  or  the  justm  ss  of  hi*  views,  is 
doubtful.  His  ardent  love  of  freedom,  and  his  onerous  appreciation  of, 
and  sympathy  with,  whatever  is  noble  in  character  or  action,  give  a 
charm  to  these  volumes  and  invest  them  with  a  good  moral  influence 
The  reader  will  not  only  find  interest  and  excitement,  nnd  considerable 
additions  to  the  minuteness  and  accuracy  of  his  historical  knowledge, 
but  many  of  the  mo.-t  elevated  sentiments,  in  the  perusal  of  the  work. 
It  is  finely  executed,  and  embellished  with  spirited  etchings  on  steel." — 
N.  Y.  Evangelist. 


e  ii'lllior    nah  presenien   me  iuuv»  prominent  nuns   ji.  me  vumrwmmt  01 

ach  of  his  subjects  so  forcibly,  that  the  man  stands  boldly  forth  on  the 
nL'c.  and  \  mi  seem  alm.ist  to  be  th«  companion  of  the  gallant  heroes  who 


. 
unrounded  the  •  .Man  of  Destiny.' 

"  We  cannot  undertake  to  condense  these  sketches,  or  extract  jvortions 


WASHINGTON   AND  HIS  GENERALS. 

By.  J.  T.  Headley,  author  of  "  Napoleon  and  his  Marshals," 
"  The  Sacred  Mountains,"  &c.  In  two  volumes.  I2mo. 
pp.  348. 

"  We  have  read  it  with  an  unwonted  decree  of  pleasure  and  admira 
tion.  Many  people  complain  that  American  history  lacks  romance;  that 
it  has  in  it  nothing  stirring  or  striking  ;  and  is.  therefore,  dull  and  spirit 
less,  beside  the  annals  of  Europe.  Mr.  HKADLEY  has  given  to  this 
objection  the  most  thorough  an.l  conclusive  refutation  it  could  possibly 
receive;  and  it-.is  not  likely  to  be  heard  again.  He  has  given  to  the 
incidents  of  our  Revolution,  by  his  graphic  and  spirited  descriptions,  an 
intensity  of  interest  not  surpassed  in  the  gran  lest  achievments  of  Na 
poleon's  troops.  Instead  of  giving  simply  the  naked  details  of  what  waa 
done,  like  most  of  those  who  have  written  upon  the  same  subject,  he 
h  is  brrathe.l  into  them  the  breath  of  life  ; — he  brings  his  reader  into  the 
immediate  presence  of  the  act  he  describes  ; — his  words  have  a  burning, 
rushing  pjwer;  and  you  can  no  more  doubt  the  reality  of  his  pictures, 
than  you  could  have  doubted  the  reality  of  the  original  scenes,  had  you 
been  in  the  midst  of  them." — Courier  and  Inquirer. 

•'•'  Unlike  all  the  histories  of  the  American  Revolution,  which  aim  to 
give  the  causes  and  the  results  of  the  war,  Mr.  Headley  presents  the 
eventful  part  of  that  Revolution,  and  describes  the  scenes  wtiich  trans 
pired  seventy  y:ars  ago  with  such  nervous  precision  and  accurate  detail, 
that  the  reider  fancies  himself  on  the  spots  where  the  prucipal  battles 
occurred,  and  feels  th-it  he  is  living  in  •'  the  times  that  tri  J  men's  souls." 
No  author  ever  possessed  the  power  to  present  a  battle,  or  any  other 
scene,  in  the  glowing  life-like  descriptions  of  HeaJley." — Christian 
Secretary. 

"  We  are  much  pleased  with  this  book,  and  question  whether  any  offer 
ing  could  be  more  acceptable  to  the  American  reader.  Washington  sur 
rounded  by  his  heroic  band  of  Generals,  and  all  moving  amid  the  great 
events  of  the  American  Revolution,  is  the  grandest  spectacle  in  history; 
and  the  masterly  pen  of  Headley  has  succeeded  to  admiration  in  present 
ing  it  in  all  its  own  intensify  of  interest. — •'  Washington  ami  his  Gene 
rals,"  li'ie  "  Napoleon  and  his  Marshals,''  seems  to  us  more  like  a  master 
piece  of  painting,  than  a  mere  work  of  letters,  so  matchless  are  the  de 
scriptions  of  the  most  exciting  scenes,  so  perfect  are  the  delineations  ol 
character." — Daily  IleniU. 

"  There  is  no  difficulty  in  understanding  the  secret  of  the  great  popu 
larity  which  the  writings  of  Mr.  Headley  have  so  rapidly  obtained.  He 
speaks  heartily,  earnestly,  truthfully,  and  the  warm  heart  answers  to 
his  voice.  In  his  Washington  he  has  exceeded  himself,  producing  a 
noble  portrait  of  the  noblest  man:  and  weaving  such  a  garland  as  patri 
otism  and  reverence  love  to  place  on  the  brow  of  the  Father  of  his  Coun 
try"-  N.  Y.  Observer 

"  Every  page  has  some  graphic  picture  of  the  stiring  scenes  in  which 
Washington  and  his  Generals  were  actors.  The  characteristics  of  these 
raliant  champions — their  stern  patriotism — their  noble  sacrifices,  and 
their  indomitable  energy  and  cour.ige — are  portrayed  with  great  beauty, 
and  present  the  men  and  their  times  to  the  re  \der  with  more  than  pic 
torial  strength  and  clearness." — Albany  Evening  Journal. 

"Th«  ugh  we  are  necessarily  familiar  with  much  of  the  historical  mat 
ter  cimprise-l  in  M".  Ha.illey's  book,  yet  his  admirable  sty;e  of  narra- 


tire,  and  vivid  coloring  of  the  more  stirring  scenes  Invest  these  memolrr 
with  a  peculiar  interest,  and  give  them  a  freshness  that  is  very  accepta 
ble.  Familiar  as  we  were,  with  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  we  yet 
derived  a  more  vivid  conception  of  it  from  Mr.  Headley's  graphic  pen, 
than  we  ever  before  realized,  and  this  is  only  one  among  many  occa 
sions  in  the  p«ru<al  of  his  work,  where  we  felt  the  powerful,  and  we  may 
say,  resistless  influence  of  his  exciting  eloquence." —  The  Courier. 

'•'We  might  particularize  instances  which  have  thrilled  us  in  the 
perusal ;  but  they  are  scattered  over  the  volumes.  Mr.  Headley  hag 
undertaken  a  difficult  work,  in  the  production  of  these  sketches.  It  is  a 
work  only  of  an  artist — a  genius  ;  and  to  be  accomplished  only  by  labo 
rious,  tedious  investigation." —  Tlie  Ohio  Observer. 

No  writer  has  delineated  the,thrilling  scenes  and  events  of  the  Revo 
lutionary  struggle  with  such  graphic  power.  He  places  one  as  it  were 
upon  the  very  theatre  of  action  and  bloody  conflict;  the  surrounding 
incidents,  under  the  influence  of  his  magic  pen,  assuming  the  reality  of 
visible  objects,  and  impressing  themselves  upon  the  mind  with  the 
vividness  of  personal  observation.  This  work  fills  a  place  in  American 
Literature  occupied  by  no  other.  Tt  is  sui  generis.  And  we  know  of 
none  so  likely  to  beget  in  the  youthful  mind  a  keen  and  permanent  relish 
for  the  history  of  his  country,  as  this." — Onondago  Detnocrat. 

"These  sketches,  orwhvever  they  may  be  called,  are  certainly  sur 
prising  productions.  We  are  all  of  us  more  or  less  familiar  with  the 
heroes  and  the  bittles  of  the  Revolution  History  and  the  faltering 
tonjfir-s  of  the  few:  decayed  survivors  of  those  trying  times,  have  fought 
over  and  over  our  battle*  for  liberty. — They  have  all  been  carefully, 
minutely  and  accurately  described  by  the  most  veritable  historians  of 
the  times.  Those  thrilling  scenes  in  which  our  fathers  suffered  and 
died,  that  we  misht  live,  have  been  painted  in  all  their  lights  and  shades ; 
but  they  wanted  a  master's  hand  to  finish  them.  Headley  has  brought 
down  fire  from  heaven,  and  .given  life  to  the  whole.  We  had  all  the  fea 
tures  before,  but  comparatively  lifeless.  Headley  has  given  them  ani 
mation  and  soul,  and  the  work  now  under  consideration  is  equal  in  point 
of  interest  to  any  other  relating  to  the  great  moral,  civil  and  political 
Revolution  of  1776V' — Saratoga  Republican. 

"  We  welcome  Mr.  Headly  to  American  ground,  and  to  a  work  for 
which  he  of  all  our  writers  is  best  fitted — the  presentation  of  the  im- 
in<irtal  achievements  of  our  revolution — as  they  present  themselves  to 
the  popular  heart,  and  not  to  the  dry  historian  in  his  search  for  details. 
The  various  published  lives  of  the  generals  of  '76,  though  carefully 
written  and  filled  with  interesting  facts,  have,  we  venture  to  say,  im 
pressed  themselves  but  little  on  the  national  mind,  and  been  compara 
tively  litile  read — th  s  because  the  writer  did  not  become  fired  with  the 
heat  of  the  times  they  wrote  of,  and  thus  by  their  imagination  reproduce 
the  feeling  and  recall  the  tone  of  the  great  struggle  for  freedom  and 
independence.  Yet  it  is  morally  important  that  such  a  work  should  be 
written — because  thereby  the  spirit  of  the  great  founders  of  our  nation 
may  be  made  part  of  our  spirit,  and  pass  into  our  national  life  and  cha 
racter.  Mr.  Headley  has,  we  think,  done  this  most  successfully,  and 
w«  have  read  his  sketches — an  he  modestly  terms  them  in  his  preface, 
with  strong  interest  and  satisfaction.  We  should,  however,  come  short 
of  d^itig  him  justice,  if  we  should  not  refer  to  a  difficulty  he  has  had  to 
contend  with,  and  which  he  mentions— the  barrenness  of  personal  inci 
dents  in  the  accounts  of  the  battles — owing  probably  to  the  want  of  & 
newspaper  press  in  those  times,  aiid  also  to  the  dignity  of  manner  and 
language  that  then  prevniled  which  did  not  encourage  a  familiar  knjw- 
led^e  of  public  chamcteri." — Cm.  Inrjuirtr 


IRELAND'S  WELCOME  TO  THE  STRANGER: 

Or,  an  Excursion  through  Ireland  in  1844  and  1845,  for 
the  purpose  of  personally  investigating  the  condition  of 
the  poor.  By  A.  Nicholron.  Baker  &  Scribner. 

Letter  from  lion.  "\Vm.  H.  Seward,  to  ttie  Publishers. 

Auburn.  September  30th,  1847. 
GKNTLEMF.X  : 

The  hook  of  Mrs.  Nicholson  which  you  kindly  sent  to  me  has 
teen  receive!,  and  read  with  deep  interest. 

It  has  many  blemishes,  and  yet  1  sincerely  believe  it  to  be  one  of  the 
best  Books  of  Travel  ever  written.  Indeed  1  never  read  one  concern 
ing  which  1  could  feel  assured  that  it  gave  the  naked  truth,  and  the 
whole  of  it.  No  one  can  doubt  the  scrupulous  truthfulness  and  fulness 
of  Mrs.  Nicholson's  account  of  Life  in  Ireland.  As  I  think  no  people 
have  been  more  wrongfully  or  more  severely  oppressed  in  .Modern 
Europe  than  the  Irish,  so  i  know  of  none  who  have  so  just  a  claim  on 
our  sympathy.  Mis.  Nicholson's  book  is  an  argument  for  that 
claim',  derived  from  the  very  best  source,  the  actual  condition  of  the 
Irish  People.  I  hope  it  may  find  a  broad  circulation.  No  one  can 
read  it  without  thinking  more  justly  of  the  People  of  Ireland,  and 
without  being  improved  by  the  perusal. 

With  many  thanks  for  your  courtesy.  I  am. 

Gentlemen,  vour  humble  servant, 

WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD. 

Messrs   Baker  &.  Scribner. 

"  Mrs.  Nicholson  is  a  woman  of  talents,  genius,  and  of  most  unques 
tionable  benevolence. — of  noble  purposes,  and  never  weary  in  her 
efforts  to  achieve  them, — a  reformer,  and  wondering  that  the  wheels 
of  reformation  move  so  tandily  towards  the  goal.  In  1344.  she  felt 
called  to  a  mission  to  Ireland,  for  the  purpose  of  investigating  per 
sonally  the  condition  of  the  1  rish  poor.  Of  course  she  went.  Some 
times  in  stages,  and  sometimes  in  fly-boats,  sometimes  in  the  pea 
sant's  car,  and  sometimes  on  foot. — sometimes  with  money,  and 
sometimes  without. — sometimes  spurned  from  the  mansions  of  the 
great  and  sheltered  in  the  hut  of  poverty,  and  sometimes  refused  ad 
mission  to  the  hut,  and  welcomed  to  the  castle,  she  traversed  Ire 
land,  and  here  is  the  record  of  her  wanderings,  in  1S44  and  1S45 
The  interest  of  somo  of  its  passages  is  intense.— you  are  move* 
sometimes  to  pity,  sometimes  to  indignation.- now  you  laugh,  ana 
the  next  moment  you  are  moved  to  tears.  We  confess  that  we  havt 


"  The  author  is  a  female  of  striking  peculiarities  and  eccentricities. 
Alone  she  visited  Ireland  on  a  tour  of  exploration,  and  mainly  rely 
ing  on  her  own  resources,  without  the  aid  of  influential  friends, 
and.  as  it  would  seem,  with  a  slender  purse  she  travels  over  the 
greater  portion  of  the  Island,  sometimes  on  foot,  and  sometimes  in 
the  Irish  jaunting-car.  Her  mission,  whatever  might  be  its  definite 
de-igii.  was  principally  to  the  poor,  and  we  find  her  evorywheie  in 
the  hovels  of  poverty  partaking  of  the  hospitality  of  those  who 
could  otter  her  no  better  fare  than  a  potato  anil  a  *tiflM  bed.  'I  lies.* 


risits  sne  describes  in  her  own  peculiar  style,  and  gives  the  con 
versations  she  had  with  the  wretched  and  oppressed  inhabitants. 
Many  of  her  sketches  are  highly  graphic,  sometimes  amusing,  and 
often  touching.  The  general  picture  of  the  condition  of  the  poor  is 
gloomy  indeed,  and  bears  the  marks  of  truth.  Irish  character  ia 
also  well  portrayed." — Presbyterian. 

"  Her  heart  is  indeed  warm  with  her  theme.  She  bears  you  with 
breathless  inteiest  from  cabin  to  cabin,  and  from  mountain  top  und 
valley,  to  mountain  top  and  valley.  She  makes  you  a  party  in 
ever}  thing.  Her  bold  and  graphic  descriptions  charm  you — her 
glowing  pictures,  revealing  the  secret  woi kings  of  humanity,  live 
in  men-ory — her  simple  and  touching  delineations  of  the  life  of  Ire 
land's  poor,  melt  you  to  tevs,  and  command  your  sympathy  ;  and 
you  arise  from  the  perusal  of  the  work,  with  better  views  of  life, 
new  and  deeper  feelings  for  your  kind,  and  with  a  constrained  de 
sire  to  follow  her  in  the  walks  of  Christian  travel  and  benevo 
lence." — Albany  Spectator. 

"  She  has  tii/elled  among  the  people,  and  has  seen  them  in  their 
cottages  and  hovels,  and  tells  us  all  she  saw  with  a  sprightliness 
which  prevents  our  interest  from  flagging  Those  who  feel  an  in 
terest  in  this  noble  but  oppressed  people,  will  consider  this  work  of 
much  value." — Jersey  City  Telegraph. 

1  "As  the  spirit  of  benevolence  dictated  the  purpose  in  which  this 
book  originated,  so  it  breatltes  through  every  page  of  its  contents. 
It  is  the  production  ol  one  of  our  countrywomen,  who,  partly  from 
an  admiration  of  th«  Irish  character,  and  partly  from  sympathy  with 
Irish  suffering,  adventured  in  the  heroic  enterprise  of  going  single- 
handed  and  alone,  to  ascertain  for  herself  the  actual  condition  of  the 
peasantry  of  that  ill-fated  country.  She  has  made  a  book  that 
speaks  well  both  for  her  head  and  heart.  Her  details  of  what  sho 
witnessed  and  experienced  are  exceedingly  minute  and  graphic, 
and  display  as  much  of  true  Irish  character  as  we  have  met  with 
anywhere  wilhin  the  same  limits." — Albany  Argus. 

This  work  will  probably  create  considerable  interest  at  the  pre 
sent  day.  connected  as  it  is  with  the  recent  famine  and  sickness  in 
unhappy  Ireland.  It  is  the  tiansciipt  of  views  and  impressions 
made  upon  a  disinterested  (though  not  uninterested^  yet  benevolent 
lady,  who  went  among  the  low  est  clashes.  f,n-  the  purpose  of  per 
sonally  investigating  their  condition,  and  relieving  it.  as  far  as  laid 
in  her  power.  The  narrative  is  linely  written,  and  the  scenes  de 
picted  aie  both  affecting  and  amusing.  The  work  presents  a  scene 
of  human  misery  almost  too  painful  to  read,  yet  so  interspersed  with 
relations  characteristic  of  the  Irish,  as  to  piescut  an  interesting  and 
instructing  book." — Christian  Intelligencer. 

'•The  heroic  fidelity  with  which  this  unenviable,  but  most  useful 
mission,  was  performed  ;  the  gentle  symputhy.  the  kind  advice  and 
assistance  which  she  bestouod  ;  and  mom  than  all.  the  faithful  but 
startling  picture  of  Irish  poveity  which  she  has  brought  above 
ground,  the  volume  will  disclose  to  the  reader.  .\nd  no  one.  ue 
are  sure,  can  icad  it  uithout  being  agitated  with  the  profoundest 
l>ity  for  the  poor,  siai  ving.  degiaded  In.sh,  or  without  admiration  for 


the  practical,  energetic  philanthropy  of  tn»  woman  who  could  d 
all  this.  The  style  of  the  work  is  straight-forward,  simple,  truth 
fill,  and  therefore  eloouent  ;  and  of  all  the  books  on  that  much-be- 
Written  country,  we  have  never  met  one  half  so  interesting,  instruc 
tive,  or  suggestive.  At  the  present  time,  when  thousands  of  Irish 
men  are  coming  to  claim  our  compassion,  we  wish  that  America* 
chanty  might  receive  the  impulse  that  this  book  is  so  admirably 
adapted  to  give." — N.  Y.  Evangelist. 

"  The  hook  will  be  found  deeply  interesting.  In  fact  it  could 
scarcely  be  expected  otherwise,  when  it  is  remembered  that  a  lady 
of  refined  feelings,  blended  with  deep  and  ardent  piety,  and  a  very 
graceful  writer  withal  is  the  author  ;  and  that  this  lady  actually 
travelled  through  Ireland,  stopping  at  the  low  mud  cabins, — by  the 
wayside, — and  wherever  she  found  an  object  of  charity  to  whom  she 
could  minister  consolation.  We  have  never  met  with  a  book  in 
which  the  condition  of  Ireland  appeared  to  be  so  faithfully  pic 
tured." —  Christian  Secretary. 

"Ireland's  Welcome  to  a  Stranger,  is  the  resvtlt  of  a  bold  novelty 
in  our  travelling  annals.  A  lady  of  mind,  heart  and  education  visit 
ed  Ireland  in  the  most  unpretending  way,  and  with  the  intention 
of  searching  out  the  very  pith  of  the  matter  as  she  explored  the 
fountain  of  Irish  woes  and  Irish  hopelessness.  No  visitor  she  of  lordly 
halls  and  stately  institutions  ;  her  time  and  sympathies  were  given  to 
the  suffering  and  down-cast  in-dweller  in  lowly  cabins  by  the  way 
side.  The  story  of  her  wanderings  among  the  poor  are  told  in  one 
of  the  most  vivid,  earnest,  heart-reaching  volumes  of  the  day.  The 
writer  is  a  woman  in  feeling,  an  American  in  sentiment,  and  a  true 
missionary  in  conduct.  Some  of  the  aneadotes — so  simply,  yet  so 
effectively  told — are  worth  more  than  any  missionary  sermon  ever 

fiven  from  a  pulpit,  and  no  one  who  takes  up  the  book  will  lay  it 
own  willingly  before  he  comes  to  the  end.     When  he  does  it  will 
be  with  a  cordial  acknowledgment  that  he  has  learned  much  that  it 
is  well  to  know,  and  that  Messrs.  Baker  &  Scribner  have  given  the 

r'jlic  a  most  interesting  book  in  Mrs.  Nicholson's  recital  of'Ire- 
d's  Welcome  to  the  Stranger.'  " — JV.  Y.  Sun. 

''Over  three  years  ago  Mrs.  Nicholson  set  sail  for  Ireland,  deter 
mined  to  make  herself  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  denizens  ol 
its  cabins  and  hovels,  so  as  to  qualify  herself  to  judge  what  are  the 
true  causes  of  the  squalid  wretchedness  there  so  prevalent,  and  ol 
the  practicability  and  proper  means  of  alleviating  it.  In  this  spirit 
•he  has  since  travelled  over  a  great  part  of  the  unhappy  kingdom, 
mainly  on  foot  and  often  alone,  stopping  to  rest  at  the  lowliest 
habitations,  and  grudging  no  inconvenience  nor  rebuff,  so  that  she 
was  enabled  to  see  clearly  and  report  truly  the  condition  of  the 
Irish  people.  A  stern  Protestant,  she  was  not  likely  to  be  misled 
by  religious  sympathy.  And  she  has  given  us  an  instructive, 
plain-spoken,  unpretending  book,  full  of  facts  which  will  prove 
useful  in  the  progress  of  the  struggle  for  the  emancipation  not  ol 
Ireland's  millions  only;  but  of  the  oppressed  and  famished  every 
where."-- N.  Y.  Tribune. 


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